Match . . . What is it, what does it do and how does it fit into the FIFA system?
RIO DE JANEIRO: Match Servicos de Eventos was created to operate local ticketing activities at the 2014 World Cup and is a subsidiary of UK-based Byrom group; another subsidiary is Match Hospitality which is FIFA’s corporate hospitality agent.
Match Hospitality shareholders include a FIFA commercial partner, Infront Sports and Media (five per cent), and Dentsu, the Japanese advertising and marketing giant. Infront’s chief executive is Philippe Blatter, the nephew of FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
The last published accounts for Byrom, founded by Mexican brothers Jaime and Enrique Byrom, showed a turnover of £60.7m for the year to September 30, 2013, with pre-tax profits rising to £5.1m.
Company accounts indicate that Match Hospitality and another subsidiary entered into a loan agreement with FIFA to fund the companies’ obligation to provide accommodation services in Brazil.
KEIR RADNEDGE
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