Patrick Hickey has threatened the Olympic Council of Ireland with a High Court injunction if they proceed with a review into ticketing arrangements at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) announced tonight that a review into ticketing arrangements at Rio 2016 will be postponed after Patrick Hickey threatened to seek an injunction preventing its completion.

Hickey was arrested in August as part of an investigation by Brazilian police into the alleged mis-selling of tickets for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Following his arrest, Hickey temporarily stood down as President of the OCI, which he has led since 1988. 

The Executive Committee of the OCI revealed tonight following a meeting that the report - which is being carried out by Grant Thornton - will now be completed only following the conclusion of criminal proceedings against Hickey.

In a statement tonight, the OCI said: "This decision was taken following the receipt of a letter from Mr Hickey’s lawyers this week in which he threatened to make an application to the High Court for an injunction preventing the completion of the review. 

"The Executive Committee has decided not to incur the very significant additional cost of defending any such legal proceedings."

The statement also notes that a new Executive Committee will be elected during an Extraordinary General Meeting in January 2017.

A message of support was sent to Patrick Hickey during the European Olympic Committees General Assembly in Minsk last month following his arrest during Rio 2016 ©Twitter
A message of support was sent to Patrick Hickey during the European Olympic Committees General Assembly in Minsk last month following his arrest during Rio 2016 ©Twitter

Hickey has reportedly been charged with criminal organisation, ticket touting, ambush marketing, larceny, money laundering and tax evasion.

The 71-year-old, who is still in Brazil after his passport was confiscated, could face up to seven years in jail if he is found guilty.

Hickey, who has also temporarily stood down as President of the European Olympic Committees, has denied all the charges. 

Last week, the OCI said they will not view the independent report into the ticket arrangements at Rio 2016.

Instead, the report being carried out by Grant Thornton will be passed directly to Judge Carroll Moran, who is leading the non-statutory inquiry into ticketing arrangements.