Jerome Valcke sacked: Fifa dismiss secretary general with immediate effect

Fifa today sacked Secretary General Jerome Valcke with immediate effect.

Valcke had been suspended from all football activity while under investigation for alleged involvement in a scheme to profit from the sale of World Cup tickets.

The 55-year-old, who was widely regarded as President Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man, continues to deny all allegations but Fifa’s Emergency Committee believes there is sufficient evidence to dismiss him now.

Fifa’s Ethics Committee had previously recommended the Frenchman should be banned for nine years but a statement released by the organisation this morning read: “The FIFA Emergency Committee decided, on 9 January 2016, to dismiss Jerome Valcke from the position of Fifa Secretary General with immediate effect. Jerome Valcke is therefore no longer the Secretary General of Fifa.

“The employment relationship between Fifa and Jerome Valcke has also been terminated. Jerome Valcke was provisionally released from his duties as Secretary General on 17 September 2015, and on 7 January 2016, formal adjudicatory proceedings were opened against him by the adjudicatory chamber of the Fifa ethics committee chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert.

“The provisional suspension imposed on Jerome Valcke on 8 October 2015 and extended on 6 January 2016 continues to be valid.”

Markus Kattner remains Fifa’s acting secretary general.