A member of Fifa staff hailing from Britain has found himself in hot water after being arrested in Miami under suspicion of engaging in sexual activity with a minor during a work trip from Zurich last year. The global football governing body, currently in the midst of preparations for the upcoming World Cup and Club World Cup in the United States, has taken swift action by suspending the staff member in question due to the gravity of the allegations.
Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations confirmed that Jack Coles, aged 39, who appears to hold a significant position within Fifa’s music and audio department, was apprehended on Friday at a hotel in close proximity to Fifa’s offices situated in the Coral Gables neighborhood. Coles is identified as a project leader within Fifa Sound, the branch responsible for curating music for the organization’s various events and broadcasts.
Reports suggest that Coles allegedly met a 14-year-old boy through a men’s dating application last October, and purportedly attempted to arrange another meeting with the minor just last week. The boy reportedly informed Coles that he was 16 years old, following which he came into contact with federal authorities. According to a federal criminal complaint filed by a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, the suspect initially encountered the boy on the Grindr app after flying from Zurich on October 6 and checking into a hotel in Coral Gables.
Their communication allegedly continued on Instagram, where the minor allegedly disclosed his age as 16, below the legal age of consent in Florida. Authorities claim that the British suspect responded by inquiring whether they could engage in sexual activity, to which the boy affirmed that they could not due to his age. The complaint states that the boy confirmed, and the suspect replied, expressing a desire to comply with the law.
Agents allege that the suspect proceeded to breach the law by arranging for the minor to meet him at the Hyatt Regency in Coral Gables. Following their encounter, the suspect purportedly messaged the boy, suggesting a romantic involvement. Subsequently, federal agents took control of the minor’s Instagram account to impersonate him, leading to a sting operation and the subsequent arrest of Coles earlier this month.
In response to the unfolding legal proceedings in Miami, Fifa issued a statement acknowledging the severity of the allegations, clarifying that the matter is personal and unrelated to the suspect’s professional responsibilities at Fifa. The individual has been promptly suspended from all duties pending further notice. Fifa refrained from providing additional commentary at this stage.
Fifa established a base in Coral Gables in 2023 in anticipation of hosting two major tournaments in the United States. Additionally, the organization relocated its legal department from headquarters in Zurich to the same location. The inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in 11 American cities, will commence on June 14 in Miami, featuring a match between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Al-Ah
