Miami (KHN) – According to reports, a FIFA employee who was on a work trip from Zurich last year was arrested in Miami on suspicion of having sex with a minor.
“FIFA is aware of ongoing legal proceedings in Miami. The alleged offenses are serious and of a personal matter with no link to his work at FIFA,” the world soccer body said in a statement Wednesday.
“The individual has been suspended with immediate effect and until further notice from all duties. FIFA has no further comment at this stage,” it said.
According to the story, federal officers from Homeland Security Investigations arrested Jack Coles on Friday at a hotel close to FIFA’s Coral Gables headquarters.
Coles leads the FIFA Sound project, which is in charge of arranging the music for the soccer organization’s broadcasts and events.
According to reports, Coles, a British man who is reportedly 39 years old, met a 14-year-old boy on a men’s dating app in October of last year and made another attempt to meet up with him last week. The teenager eventually got in touch with federal investigators after allegedly telling the FIFA employee he was sixteen.
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Prior to the country hosting two major championships, FIFA established a U.S. base in Coral Gables in 2023. Additionally, it relocated its legal department from its Zurich headquarters there.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami takes against Al Ahly of Egypt at the Miami Dolphins’ home stadium on June 14 to kick off the first 32-team Club World Cup, which will be held in 11 American cities.
The majority of the 104 matches of the men’s 2026 World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 of next year, will be held in the United States. There will be seven games in the Miami stadium.
Reference: FIFA staffer reportedly arrested in Miami in alleged underage sex case