Pro 10 answering message diverts to Marcus Evans Group

A message on an answering machine run by Pro10 Sports Management, the company at the centre of the Olympic tickets controversy, redirected calls to the Marcus Evans Group.

The voicemail for Pro10, which is based in Lucan, notes that it is full and the message goes on to state: "Thank you for calling Marcus Evans. Our office is now closed."

Pro10 is the authorised seller contracted by the Olympic Council of Ireland to sell tickets for the Rio games.

Custody

Currently, Irishman

Kevin Mallon

is in custody for allegedly trying to sell tickets illegally in

Rio de Janeiro

. He works for THG Sports which is part of the

Marcus Evans Group

.

A letter seen by The Irish Times from October last year, from the Brazilian National Olympic Organising Committee stated that THG Sports and any other company linked to its parent Marcus Evans Company are not authorised sellers. "The commercialisation of such tickets constitutes a contractual infraction and eventually, illegal, if they were commercialised above face value," the letter states.

The Dublin phone number for Pro10 appears on the Team Ireland Facebook page for those looking to buy tickets for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. It states: "We are pleased to announce that Pro10 have been appointed by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee to be the authorised ticket agent for Ireland for the Rio Olympic Games 2016. Please contact Pro10 for any ticket queries."

It then gives the number which is currently redirected to Marcus Evans.

Pro10 has stated that Mr Mallon was merely holding tickets on its behalf and that THG Sports is an entirely separate entity. Pro10 says he was not paid by it (Pro10) and was merely distributing tickets on its behalf to clients.

A spokesman for Pro10 Sports Management said last night it is puzzled as to how the reference to Marcus Evans appeared on a phone line which was supposed to have been run by Pro10. He said the number in question had been shut down and it was surprised that it was now live again.

He said Pro10 is not affiliated to the Marcus Evans Group and the number listed on the Team Ireland Facebook page is a ticket hotline and not Pro10’s office number.

“Given the time difference, it may be the case that people looking to collect tickets may have been transfered on to the Marcus Evans number for ticket collection in Rio,” he said.