FIFA suspends Valcke, Swiss agree to extradite Figueredo
Jérôme Valcke
(CNS): The right hand man to FIFA’s president has been suspended in the latest scandal to hit the world football body. Jérôme Valcke (54), who has been Sepp Blatter’s secretary general since 2007, is the latest FIFA official to face a formal investigation as a result of corruption allegations. Valcke was put on leave over allegations that he was involved in a scheme to sell World Cup tickets above face value and share in the profits. Meanwhile, the Swiss have agreed to extradite FIFA vice president, Eugenio Figueredo. The Uruguayan former CONMEBOL president was arrested along with Cayman’s Jeffrey Webb in Zürich in May.
But unlike Webb, the 83-year-old, who is believed to be in poor health, had resisted the extradition and remained in a Swiss jail along with five other FIFA officials arrested by the Swiss authorities in relation to the massive US corruption probe into FIFA.
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Monday that more arrests were coming in the US racketeering investigation, in which authorities allege that for more than two decades FIFA officials and sports marketing executives were involved in racketeering and bribery, which are linked to the US via various financial transactions and firms.
The Swiss are also running their own probe into FIFA, which is headquartered in Zürich, relating to the awarding of the next two World Cup tournaments.
The suspension of Valcke, who has denied any wrongdoing, was part of FIFA’s own internal probe. The 54-year-old French national has also been implicated in an alleged $10 million bribe paid by South Africa to secure the 2010 World Cup, a key part of the US indictment against senior football officials. Valcke was due to step down in February, when Blatter is also still planning to quit as president, but he will now be investigated by FIFA’s ethics committee.
Category: Local News
I know that it’s early days, oops I mean years, but will we see another oxymoron anytime in this century to top FIFA Ethics Committee?
Does she not know the Cayman rule. Take it and when you get found out give it back. Simple!
(Smiling) I’m surprised that the DPP Office isn’t negotiating with the U.S. based on this same policy “take it and when you get found out give it back” — Case Closed. Let Mr. Webb return the monies he essentially stole and pardon him from the crime. That is, let him be a free man in society.
I’ve seen, and known, of the Government’s DPP Office doing much stranger things [with case matters].
It will never be metered out in local courts will it. Long time come.
Justice is coming to Cayman also. Some is definetly needed.
@8:44pm be careful what you wish for! Now get going to work and don’t use company time to blog today. Unlike you I’m retired!
Nobody wished for this, they have been caught out and will now bring it on themselves.
The beauty of it all is leaving others with much indecision: will they be implicated, should they leave the jurisdiction, should they return to Cayman or can they make counter allegations quickly before the rain pours?
Strange allies and alliances form in these times of desperation.