World Cup 2014: Match ticket chief Ray Whelan surrenders to police in Brazil

Whelan disappeared from his hotel on Thursday

Ray Whelan is in police custody after handing himself in to a judge in Rio de Janeiro (AP)

Ray Whelan, the English director of Fifa’s official ticket and hospitality partner Match, is in police custody after handing himself in to a judge in Rio de Janeiro several days after being declared “a fugitive” by police investigating a ticket-touting ring.

According to a Rio civil police statement, Whelan – Sir Bobby Charlton’s former agent – presented himself to the chief judge of Rio’s 6th criminal chamber, Rosita Maria de Oliveira Netto, after which he was re-arrested by police. Whelan was accompanied by his lawyer, Fernando Fernandes, and told police he had been preparing documents for his defence, according to Brazilian media.

Whelan disappeared from his hotel on Thursday via a service entrance minutes before police investigating illegal World Cup ticket sales arrived to re-arrest him.