FIFA fires ex-Blatter deputy Jerome Valcke

Geneva: FIFA has said it had fired Sepp Blatter's former right-hand man, Jerome Valcke, the latest casualty in a multi-layered scandal that has brought down the most powerful figures in world football.

Valcke was FIFA's secretary general for nearly a decade, working alongside the body's then president Blatter, who has been banned for eight years over an ethics violation.

Valcke, 55, was himself facing a possible nine-year ban sought by FIFA investigators over his alleged role in a scheme to sell 2014 World Cup tickets on the black market.

In a statement, FIFA said yesterday his employment contract had been "terminated", even before a verdict in the ticket case was decided.

"The FIFA emergency committee decided, on 9 January 2016, to dismiss Jerome Valcke from the position of FIFA secretary general with immediate effect," the statement said.

Valcke's US-based lawyer Barry Berke said his client "remains confident that he will be fully vindicated and history will recognise all of his contributions to the sport he loves."

He "is proud of all that was accomplished for the game of football during his long tenure as Secretary General," Berke added in an email sent to AFP.

FIFA said that Markus Kattner will continue to serve as acting secretary general, the body's number two post.

FIFA first suspended Valcke on September 17, when ethics committee investigators began probing the ticketing scheme.

The suspension was renewed on January 6.

Investigators wrapped up that inquiry last week and called for a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs with the lengthy ban.

Valcke has also been linked to a USD 10 million payment made by South Africa to corruption-tainted former Caribbean football chief Jack Warner.

US investigators reportedly believe this was a bribe to secure votes for the 2010 World Cup.

But Valcke had been a controversial figure even before he was tipped as secretary general.