SOCCER BOSS DELANEY WAS IN KERRY, NOT RIO

IRISH SOCCER BOSS UNDERSTOOD TO BE STAYING IN KERRY AS OLYMPICS TICKET SCANDAL GREW

THE FAI CEO John Delaney is understood to have spent much of the last week staying in the Inch area.

On Sunday a Brazilian judge issued a warrant to seize Mr Delaney’s passport as authorities in the South American country continue to investigate alleged ticket touting at the Rio Olympic Games.

No charges have been issued against Mr Delaney. There is no evidence of any kind linking him to ticket touting and it remains entirely unclear why Brazilian police have a specific interest in him.

Mr Delaney is the vice president of the Olympic Council of Ireland and he has been tipped to take over from former OCI president Pat Hickey who is currently in a Brazilian jail.

It is understood that Mr Delaney – who has not commented on the ongoing crisis that has embroiled the OCI – did not travel to the Olympic games and that he was holidaying in the Inch area as the scandal erupted.

Though he is from Waterford, Mr Delaney has strong connections with Kerry.

Prior to joining the Football Association of Ireland he set up and ran Cameo Cakes in Tralee before eventually moving into the distribution business.

He maintains deep ties to the county and is a regular visitor to the greater Tralee area where he has many close friends in the local sporting and business communities.

FAI chief John Delaney