- Coles, 39, is a project lead at FIFA Sound, organising music for governing body
- FIFA confirmed they are aware of the arrest but stressed it is a ‘personal matter’
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A British FIFA official has been arrested while on a work trip in the United States after allegedly arranging to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex, a report has claimed.
Jack Edward Coles, 39, was reportedly detained by federal agents at a hotel near FIFA’s offices in Miami having attempted to meet the child last week.
FIFA confirmed it was aware of the case but stressed that the allegations were a ‘personal matter’ unrelated to Coles’ work as a project lead at FIFA Sound. The governing body also confirmed that Coles has been suspended with immediate effect.
According to The Miami Herald, the Brit, who works at the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, allegedly met the boy on the dating app Grindr in October last year and engaged in sexual activity with him in a hotel.
The report goes on to cite the arrest complain which states that while Coles did not know the boy was 14, the teen did tell him he was 16-years-old when they chatted before their first encounter.
A statement from the football’s top governing body read on Wednesday: ‘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.
Jack Edward Coles was arrested while on a work trip in the United States after allegedly arranging to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex
The 39-year-old Brit is a project lead at FIFA Sound, organising music for governing body
Coles was charged with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activities and travelling to the US with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor
‘The individual has been suspended with immediate effect and until further notice from all duties. FIFA has no further comment at this stage.’
Reporting from the Herald claims that Coles first contacted the teenager via Instagram on October 10 and asked him to visit him at the Hyatt Regency in Coral Gables.
Coles reportedly told the boy: ‘I don’t want to break any laws.’ After being told he was 16. However, according to the complaint, the Brit allegedly later ordered an Uber to bring the boy to his hotel, bought him a White Claw alcoholic beverage, and engaged in sexual activity with him.
Coles allegedly expressed his desire to see the boy again after the encounter.
The FIFA official was arrested last week after arranging to meet the boy again, unaware that he was being monitored by federal agents.
According to the report, the teenager’s Instagram account was under the control of Homeland Security agents when he messaged the boy on February 2, saying: ‘I’m back Wednesday to Saturday So I see u.’
Coles was arrested after a federal agent appeared from the Uber he had arranged to pick up the boy. According to the complaint, he was ‘naked, except for a shirt’ at the time.
He was charged with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activities and travelling to the US with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
Coles was reportedly being held at the Federal Detention Centre in Miami, though he has since been released, according to The Sun.
