A major spat has developed between Paul Greene and his Antigua and Barbuda Olympic Association colleagues ©ABNOC

Pressure is growing on Antigua and Barbuda Olympic Association (ABNOC) President Paul "Chet" Greene to step down following claims he agreed a deal with a non-authorised Rio 2016 ticket seller.

It is alleged that Greene oversaw an arrangement with World Sports & Hospitality (WSH) to facilitate ticket sales for this summer's Olympic Games, despite the company being rejected as an authorised ticket reseller (ATR).

Greene, also a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Sports, Culture, National Festivals and Youth Empowerment, is accused of pursuing a partnership with the Florida-based company even after the ruling of Rio 2016 organisers.

In a letter obtained by the Antigua Observer, ABNOC treasurer Neville Fenton told Rio 2016: “I must confess that it appears as though we deliberately disobeyed your earlier directive and entered into a loose arrangement with WSH and/or their affiliated companies."

It is claimed WSH continued their contract through an affiliated company under the guise that the NOC would manage its own ticket affairs.

Around EC$200,000 (£50,000/$74,000/€69,000) allegedly passed hands before the deal was ended.

ABNOC first vice-president Wilbur Harrigan initially called for Greene to stand down by the end of last year, threatening to disclose more information otherwise.

This did not happen, although a meeting was reportedly held between the officials and Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne to discuss the issue. 

Fenton has this week joined Harrigan in calling for Greene's removal, declaring him "unfit for office".

“There is wrongdoing here based on [the facts]," he told the Antigua Observer.

The row over tickets is threatening to detract from Antigua and Barbuda's preparations Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
The row over tickets is threatening to detract from Antigua and Barbuda's preparations Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Greene, a former President of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association and ally of disgraced football official Jack Warner, denies the allegations and claims the document was deliberately leaked for political reasons.

In what has become an ugly distraction to the country's preparations for Rio 2016, Greene has hit back.

He revealed police are reportedly investigating claims against Harrigan over an alleged failure to pay for his wife's accommodation at London 2012.

Harrigan, in turn, also denied any wrongdoing and claimed it was a simple misunderstanding over whether his wife's hotel room was a separate charge to his.

Greene is no stranger to controversy and was forced to apologise to Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2014 after publicly saying he was confident that the Independent Liberal Party, led by Warner, would form the country's next Government.

He has been linked to corruption scandals involving Warner during the latter's time as President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, before he was banned for life from all footballing activity last year. 

Other alleged misdemeanors included reportedly submitting a false invoice when claiming for business class flights to attend the 2014 Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Bangkok, only to cash the money and purchase much cheaper economy class tickets.