FIFA has suspended an employee after he was arrested on charges of meeting a 14-year-old boy for sex at a hotel in Coral Gables, Miami-Dade.
Jack Edward Coles, a British man who lives in Switzerland, was detained by federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations on Friday at a hotel in Coral Gables, where FIFA’s U.S. offices are based, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
Coles, 39, was arrested on one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and one count of travel to the United States with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, according to the complaint.
An attorney listed as representing Coles in court records did not immediately respond to requests for comment as of Wednesday morning.
Federal agents say Coles allegedly met the boy through Grindr, a dating app, in October 2024 and attempted to meet him again earlier this month. The boy alerted federal investigators of the contact and the filing states he informed Coles that he was aged 16. The age of consent in Florida is 18, while in the UK it is 16.
A SportsGrad podcast from March 2024 lists Coles as a project lead at FIFA Sound, which organises music for world football governing body’s events and broadcasts. Coles’ Instagram also shows him at various FIFA events, including the most recent women’s and men’s World Cups in 2022 and 2023.
“FIFA is aware of ongoing legal proceedings in Miami,” the governing body said in a statement when asked about the arrest by The Athletic on Wednesday.
“The alleged offences are serious and of a personal matter with no link to his work at FIFA. The individual has been suspended with immediate effect and until further notice from all duties.
“FIFA has no further comment at this stage.”
In 2024, FIFA moved its entire legal department and its audit, compliance and risk management teams away from its Zurich headquarters to Coral Gables near Miami. The moving of more than 100 employees came ahead of the United States hosting the newly-expanded Club World Cup in 2025 and the 2026 men’s World Cup, which it will host alongside Mexico and Canada.
Coles, born in the UK and a resident of Switzerland, arranged to meet the child in person while he was staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Coral Gables in October, according to the complaint.
The criminal complaint outlines in detail the initial encounter between Coles and the underage boy in October of 2024. It is unclear from the complaint when federal agents first connected with the minor. They were able to arrest Coles after assuming control of the minor’s Instagram account when Coles messaged the child last week to arrange another meeting near Miami.
Coles connected with the minor through Grindr, with their messages later switching over to Instagram, the complaint states. On October 10, Coles is alleged to have messaged the child through the social platform to confirm plans they had to meet, according to the complaint. It was during this exchange that the minor tells Coles he is 16.
The child adds, “I have experience with older.” Coles’ initial response to the child telling him he was underage is said to have been: “Oh so you’re not allowed to drink?”
During their exchange, it is claimed Coles again acknowledged the minor’s age. According to the complaint, Coles said, “So you’re 16. We cant (sic) have sex right you gotta be 18?”
After the boy confirmed, Coles said: “Sweet ok. Just so I know. I don’t want to break any laws!”
December’s FIFA Club World Cup draw took place in Miami, Florida (Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)
Coles later arranged for an Uber to pick the child up from his residence in Miami-Dade County and bring the minor to his hotel, according to the complaint. Coles cautioned the boy to be discreet. He said, “Ok I have to be careful because I have colleagues here so cant (sic) be seen walking into a hotel with a hot guy.”
As the minor arrived at the hotel, Coles asked him, “What soft drinks u (sic) like? I dont want to break the law and give you wine haha.” Coles then instructed the boy to meet him directly in his room. The minor told police Coles gave him a White Claw after he entered the room and they had sex.
According to the complaint, Coles later messaged the boy saying, “Cant (sic) wait to see you again” and “Youre (sic) gunna be my miami boyfriend by the way.”
(Stu Forster/Getty Images)
By Feb. 1, Coles once again messaged the minor on Instagram that he would be returning to Miami the following week, according to the complaint. The child did not initially respond. Federal agents had called the minor that same week asking if he had spoken with Coles, to which the child mentioned the Instagram direct message.
At this point, after speaking with police, the minor gave authorities control of his Instagram account, and police began messaging Coles after assuming the child’s identity. The complaint does not specify how or when the minor contacted police.
Coles, thinking he was messaging the child, asked the minor to meet him at his hotel on Feb. 7, specifying that he would be checking out the following morning, according to the complaint. Coles once again arranged for an Uber to pick up the minor. This time, the driver picked up the agent he had been communicating with. At one point during this exchange, it is claimed Coles asked if he could “video” the sexual encounter he anticipated that night with the minor.
By the time the Uber arrived at Coles’ hotel with the agent, Coles’ room was surrounded by federal agents and Miami police. When he opened the door, police entered and arrested Coles, who was “naked, except for a shirt,” according to the complaint.
Prison records on Wednesday list Coles as an inmate at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. Coles had an initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein on Monday in the Southern District of Florida. He will be arraigned on Monday, February 24, with a detention hearing set for Thursday morning.
(Top photo: Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images)
