FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke’s suspension from all football-related activities has been extended by 45 days according to the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
Valcke was linked with the corruption and bribery scandal currently under investigation and he was implicated in a scheme of selling tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at above their face value prior to the contract being cancelled before any were sold.
He had earlier been barred from all football related actives for 90 days but his ban came to an on Tuesday hence the extension call by investigatory chamber chairman Cornel Borbely.
“The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee chaired by Mr Hans-Joachim Eckert has decided to extend the suspension of Mr Jerome Valcke by 45 days, at the request of the investigatory chamber,” a statement read.
“The extension of the suspension starts from today [Wednesday January 6].”
“In his final report, the chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee recommended imposing a sanction of a nine-year ban and a fine of CHF 100,000 on Mr Valcke.
“Until a formal decision is taken by the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, Mr Valcke is presumed innocent.”
“The Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee has chosen to ignore Jerome Valcke’s exemplary conduct and extraordinary contributions during his long tenure as secretary general,” a statement from Valcke’s lawyers read.
“Today’s press release is nothing more than a self-serving public relations effort to wrongly attack Mr Valcke in a desperate attempt to try to prove that FIFA can police itself.
“Mr Valcke did absolutely nothing wrong as any independent and fair review of the facts would establish.”
Valcke has since denied the corruption allegations made against him, claiming FIFA is trying to beautify its damaged public image by placing the blame upon him.