FIFA's ethics watchdog extended Secretary General Jérôme Valcke's suspension from world football "as it prepares a ruling over accusations of corruption involving the sale of World Cup tickets," according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. The French administrator "denied any wrongdoing in the case."
Investigators for the ethics committee "recommended on Tuesday that Valcke be banned for nine years" and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($98,990.30).
The committee said in a statement on Wednesday that "it's chief judge Hans-Joachim Eckert had suspended Valcke for another 45 days pending a final judgement, after a previous 90-day ban expired."
The allegations against Valcke "stem from former Israeli football player Benny Alon telling a news conference in September in Zurich that he agreed in 2013 to pay cash to Valcke to secure plum tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil."
He said that "the plan was to then sell the tickets to fans at a markup and split the proceeds with Valcke" (REUTERS, 1/6).
LAST CHANCE: The BBC reported FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan said it will be a "catastrophe" for world football if he does not succeed Blatter.
Prince Ali, 40, believes that "he is the only man standing for the post who can restore the governing body's reputation after numerous corruption scandals."
He said the election on Feb. 26 was FIFA's "last chance to get it right." Jérôme Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale "are also standing" (BBC, 1/5). The PA's Martyn Ziegler wrote Prince Ali "will this week embark on a series of meetings to try to convince England, the other home nations and Ireland, of his credentials."
The prince, who condemned Blatter and Michel Platini as "totally irresponsible" over the £1.3M payment that led to eight-year bans for the pair, said English football has a "moral aspect" that fits in with his approach. Prince Ali: "I am seeking the support of the FA as well as the home nations. I think that's critical. There is a moral aspect to English football and the positions they have taken in the past. I really would be keen on getting their support. The important thing is what England stands for right now. I think that in the past sometimes there was a feeling what England says -- or at least that's what was portrayed by others -- that is somehow bullying." Prince Ali is due to meet FA Chair Greg Dyke "as well as representatives from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before flying to Dublin" (PA, 1/5).
BACK TO WORK: REUTERS' Pedro Fonseca wrote the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said that CBF President Marco Polo Del Nero "returned to work on Wednesday after completing a 45-day leave of absence" taken to fight charges he is "involved in football's wide-ranging corruption scandal."
Del Nero "was charged by U.S. prosecutors on Dec. 3 with participating in schemes designed to solicit and receive millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks to sell media and marketing rights" for football tournaments and matches.
He denied the allegations "but took a leave of absence to defend himself, giving evidence to a Congressional enquiry in Brazil but otherwise keeping a low profile" (REUTERS, 1/6).
RODRIGUES TO RUN: INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL's Paul Nicholson wrote Guyanese Mark Rodrigues "is the first candidate to declare he will run for the presidency of the North and Central American and the Caribbean confederation in elections expected to take place May 12 in Mexico City."
Rodrigues, who has a "strong history" of administration, football development and coaching, has issued a manifesto in which he says he will usher in a new style of leadership at CONCACAF, "one that leads with honesty and integrity where playing football is at the heart of everything we do and stand for."
His entry into a leadership contest "dramatically changes the presidential playing field in a confederation that historically has preferred to have its elections stage-managed" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 1/6). The AP reported Switzerland's justice ministry said that former FIFA VP Alfredo Hawit "agreed to be extradited" to the U.S. to face bribery charges.
The Swiss ministry said that "Hawit ended his opposition to an American extradition request and must be collected by a police escort within 10 days."
Hawit, from Honduras, was interim president of CONCACAF "when he was arrested at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich on Dec. 3" (AP, 1/6).
