Cops probe magpies security chief
Club deny Euro match day ticket sale was illegal
BELGIAN police have launched a probe into a Newcastle United official over the alleged sale of tickets for a Euro tie.
Boyd Weddell, the club’s deputy security officer, is claimed to have sold briefs to fans in Bruges for the club’s match there in November.
Former cop Boyd Weddell, Newcastle United’s deputy safety officer, is under investigation for handing on briefs to fans who’d travelled to Belgium for the club’s clash with FC Bruges in November.
According to an email written by his boss and Newcastle’s head of safety and security, Steve Storey, Mr Weddell “sold” tickets to two season ticket holders in the city on the afternoon of the match.
This is despite the club urging ticketless fans not to travel to Bruges and it being an offence in Belgium to sell match briefs for personal gain.
Newcastle United said the sale was not illegal because it was authorised by the club and “was not for personal gain.”
However, last week Belgian prosecutors confirmed they were investigating a complaint into the allegations by Newcastle season ticket holder Pete Beaumont.
The complaint called on authorities in the country to investigate whether any criminal activity had taken place in respect of the ticket transaction.
About 5,000 Newcastle supporters travelled to Bruges for the game, with about half having to watch it on big screens in the city centre because they couldn’t get in to the stadium.
They made the journey despite a statement on the club’s official website warning fans not to buy tickets on match day or the day before.
The statement read: “The sale of tickets on the black market is strictly prohibited and an offence against Belgian football law.”
Mr Beaumont, 42, who is originally from Hexham but now lives in Edinburgh, initially complained to the club by email.
He received a response from exNorthumbria Police Chief Superintendent Mr Storey.
It said: “I can confirm that Mr Weddell did sell two away section tickets to two Newcastle United Football Club season ticket holders on the afternoon of the match in Bruges.
“These two tickets were ones which had not been collected from myself, or indeed previously paid for.
“I was present at the time and was completely satisfied that the transaction was conducted openly and professionally and that the two season ticket holders would present no risk of disorder at the stadium.
“In the short time we had available, his actions ensured that the tickets were sold to NUFC fans who like yourself had applied for tickets, not been successful, but had still travelled to the city.”
Earlier this month The Sunday Post contacted Wendy Taylor, Newcastle United’s head of media, to discuss the contents of the email.
In a written response she said that Mr Beaumont’s allegations were “unfounded” and threatened legal action against us if we published them. Our reporter contacted her again last week following confirmation from the Belgian police that an investigation had been launched.
She said the club had been in contact with Northumbria Police which had been liaising with Belgian police. Initially, she said the club had been told by the Northumbria force that Belgian police were not investigating, insisting that no offence had been committed and that “agents of the club are allowed to sell tickets.”
But on Friday, after Newcastle United received confirmation that the investigation was under way, she said the club would make no official comment.
We also contacted Mr Storey direct but he said he was “loath to go into any great detail” about the allegations.
When asked about the email and whether he could explain what had happened, Mr Storey warned: “Go ahead and print it and see what happens. I’m not going to speak to you any further about it.”
Mr Weddell did not respond to our requests for a comment.
On Thursday, Bruges prosecutor Yves Segaert-Vanden Bussche, said: “Mr Beaumont’s complaint has been transmitted to the local police in Bruges for further investigation.”
The Bruges police commissioner, Rudy Saron, also confirmed that the public prosecutor had ordered an investigation into the claims but could make no further comment while it is on-going.
Last night Mr Beaumont blasted the club’s handling of the affair.
He said: ““This is bang out of order when there were thousands of people who couldn’t get in to the match because they didn’t have tickets.”
A FOOTBALL security chief is being probed by police for allegedly selling tickets illegally for a top Europa League match.