adminJerome Valcke, Fifa’s often-outspoken secretary general, all but confirmed yesterday that he will be leaving his job when Sepp Blatter is replaced as president of world soccer’s governing body next February.
Valcke, a 54-year-old Frenchman, has been in the job since 2007.
“If I was the next president of Fifa then I would have a new secretary general, so yes, whoever becomes the next Fifa president should have a new secretary general,” he told a news conference in Russia before today’s preliminary round draw for the 2018 World Cup.
“It’s the most important relationship for any organisation, one of the key functions in any institution, and so regarding the future I could have some privacy from whatever questions you are asking,” he added, appearing almost relieved.
“And anyway, whoever will become the next secretary general should be happy as we’ve a World Cup being very well organised in Russia.”
Fifa is in the throes of the biggest crisis in its 111-year history with the FBI and Swiss authorities investigating allegations of corruption going back decades.
“As the head of the administration I can be proud of what the administration has done and I don’t think we’ve ever been part of the stories around Fifa including the commercial agreements we have signed,” Valcke said.
“I don’t believe there have been any wrong-doings by the administration and I don’t think I’m involved or have anything to do in this case.
“I’m responsible for my work, my duty, to implement the decisions of Congress and the executive committee and I’ve done that,” added Valcke, who will conduct the World Cup preliminary round draw which is being televised live in 170 countries. — Reuters
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