Football’s world governing body, FIFA has banned its former secretary-general, Jerome Valcke from all football-related activities for 12 years.
FIFA’s independent ethics committee also fined the 55-year-old 100,000 Swiss francs (£70,800) after it investigated allegations of misconduct relating to sales of World Cup tickets, the BBC reports.
During the inquiry, other acts of potential misconduct arose concerning travel expenses and regulations.
Valcke’s lawyer said his client had done “absolutely nothing wrong.”
The lawyer’s statement said: “With today’s decision, the FIFA ethics committee has shown that it is not a credible, independent or objective decision-making body.
“In reaching an entirely unsupported, unjust and politically motivated decision, it wholly ignored the uncontroverted and exculpatory evidence that had been presented to it.
“Mr. Valcke is confident that when all the facts come out, it will be clear that he did absolutely nothing wrong in carrying out his duties for the good of FIFA and the sport.”
In September last year Valcke was put on leave and released from his duties until further notice after FIFA had “been made aware of a series of allegations” involving him.
His dismissal was confirmed in January and FIFA recommended he be banned from football for nine years.
