Valcke expects FIFA exit

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke expects to leave his role within the organisation following the presidential elections in February.

The 54-year-old assumed his current position in 2007 and has been a key part of Sepp Blatter’s administration ever since.

However, Blatter announced his resignation four days after being re-elected for a fifth term in May amid the scandal that saw nine past and present FIFA officials indicted by the United States Department of Justice on charges of racketeering conspiracy and corruption.

Valcke has now stated that he believes it will be unlikely he will stay in the role when the next head of FIFA is appointed.

“If I were to be the new FIFA president I would take a new general secretary,” he said at a press conference ahead of the draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

“So yes, whoever becomes the next FIFA president should have a new secretary general because it is the most important relationship for any organisation.”

But Valcke insists his departure has no connection to the corruption scandal. 

He added: “I always say as the head of the administration I can be proud of what FIFA’s administration has done.

“FIFA’s administration, I don’t think, has ever been part of any of the stories which are around FIFA, including all the commercial agreements we have signed from 2007 to 2015.

“I have not seen anything which is related to wrongdoing by the FIFA administration regarding any commercial aspect of FIFA during this period.

“You are asking me if I am responsible for what has happened, I don’t think I am really involved. I don’t think I am of anything to do in this case.”