Jerome Valcke: Fifa ethics committee recommends nine-year ban for suspended secretary general

The investigatory chamber of Fifa's ethics committee has recommended a nine-year ban for former secretary general Jerome Valcke after the conclusion of its investigation into his conduct. Already under scrutiny over allegations that he sought to profit personally from the sale of World Cup tickets, one of the organisation's most senior officials was suspended for 90 days from all football-related activities back in October 2015, alongside long-serving president Sepp Blatter and Uefa chief Michel Platini. That existing ban is due to expire on 5 January, although it has been suggested that it should be extended by a further 45 days.

An official statement from world football's governing body read: "The chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, Dr Cornel Borbély, has concluded his investigation into the activities of the currently suspended Fifa Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and handed over the respective report together with recommendations to the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, which is chaired by Mr Hans-Joachim Eckert.

"At the same time, Dr Borbély requested an extension of the suspension of Mr Valcke from all football-related activities for a further 45 days. The suspension imposed on Mr Valcke on 7 October 2015 for a duration of 90 days will end today, 5 January 2016, at midnight.

"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 (£67,500, $99,000) on Mr Valcke for alleged violation of the general rules of conduct (art. 13 of the Fifa Code of Ethics (FCE)), loyalty (art. 15 FCE), confidentiality (art. 16 FCE), duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting (art. 18 FCE), conflicts of interest (art. 19 FCE), offering and accepting gifts and other benefits (art. 20 FCE) and general obligation to collaborate (art. 42 FCE). Until a formal decision is taken by the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, Mr Valcke is presumed innocent."

Valcke, who denies any wrongdoing, succeeded Urs Linsi as secretary general in June 2007. Last month, Blatter and Platini were both banned from all football for eight years and fined £33,700 and £54,000 respectively in relation to a payment of £1.3m ($1.9m) made to the Frenchman for work carried out between 1998 and 2002.