Fifa open formal investigation into Sepp Blatter over bribery and corruption allegations

Fifa have announced its ethics committee has formally opened an investigation into allegations of corruption and bribery against disgraced former president Sepp Blatter.

Former secretary general Jerome Valcke and acting secretary general Markus Kattner are also under investigation.

The probe relates to claims both Blatter and Valcke, who have been banned from all football-relative activity, awarding themselves more than £55m ($80m) in pay rises and bonuses over a five-year period

A statement from world football's governing body read: "The investigatory chamber will investigate possible violations of art. 13 (General rules of conduct), art. 15 (Loyalty), art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) and art. 21 (Bribery and corruption) of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE) in the context of salaries and bonuses paid to Mr Blatter, Mr Valcke and Mr Kattner as well as other provisions included in the contracts of these three individuals."

Lawyers representing football's world governing body claimed in June Blatter, Valcke and Kattner "enriched" themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and "undue" severance payments between 2011 and 2015.

Blatter is currently serving a six-year suspension while Valcke is banned for 10 years.