Town managing director Ian Milne says it’s his understanding that no arrest warrants have been issued against Blues owner Marcus Evans and other directors of his THG Sports hospitality company in relation to the ticketing controversy at the Rio Olympics.

At a press conference on Monday, Rio’s Civil Police Fraud Unit announced that warrants for the arrest of Evans and three other THG directors had been issued.

But speaking on BBC Radio Suffolk this morning, Milne said that as far as he was aware no such warrants had been issued.

“Ipswich Town is a business within the Marcus Evans Group, it has nothing to do with THG and really those questions should be addressed to THG,” Milne said when questioned about the ongoing controversy and denied that it had been embarrassing for Town.

“No it hasn’t, it’s been discussed at the club and I understand actually that no arrest warrant has been issued against him, or indeed any of the THG executives, so that’s not correct.”

Pressed further on the warrants, which have been widely reported, he added: “That’s what I’ve been told.”

He added: “There’s a lot of politics in this issue… There are certain people who presumably have got some axe to grind.”

Meanwhile, the Olympic Council of Ireland has confirmed that it will cooperate with the independent inquiry into the Rio ticketing furore, which Irish Sports Minister Shane Ross is expected to announce shortly.

“The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) confirms that it will cooperate fully with any State inquiry into its handling of ticketing arrangements for the Rio Olympics,” the OCI said in a statement.

“The OCI will now also commission its own independent inquiry into the ticketing arrangements for Rio 2016. The previously announced internal inquiry by the OCI has been discontinued.”

THG and Pro10 Sports Management, the OCI’s current Authorised Ticket Reseller (ATR), have already backed the inquiry.

Photo: ITFC

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