FIFA have revealed the salary paid to their former President Sepp Blatter and general secretary Jérôme Valcke in 2015, with the latter now reportedly the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation.
Blatter, who was confirmed to be appealing his reduced six year ban from football at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) today, was revealed to have been paid $3,634,857 (£2,510,433/€3,210,720) in 2015.
A total of $2,964,379 (£2,046,869/€2,618,478) came from his gross annual salary in the role of President of the organisation, which he had led since 1998.
The figures were revealed in FIFA’s Financial and Governance Report, which revealed that the organisation had made a $122 million (£84 million/€108 million) loss in 2015.
FIFA claim it is the first time since 2002 that the organisation have posted a negative result, which they attribute to an increased budget for development expenses and higher competition costs, as well as “unforeseen costs such as legal fees and costs for extraordinary meetings.”
It was also revealed that former FIFA general secretary Valcke was paid a remuneration of $2,124,822 (£1,466,861/€1,877,631) during the year.
A total of $1,514,744 (£1,045,696/€1,338,526) was paid to the Frenchman as his gross annual salary.
Valcke was dismissed from his position at world football’s governing body in January, having been investigated for allegedly selling World Cup tickets for five times above their face value.
He was also fined CHF100,000 (£71,000/$102,000/€91,000).
The Frenchman was found by FIFA’s Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee to have been in breach of several ethics regulations, including offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, conflicts of interest and confidentiality.
The 55-year-old reportedly attempted to grant the television and marketing rights in the Caribbean for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, due to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively, to a third party for well below their value.
He was banned by the Committee for 12-years from all football activity.
Valcke has continually denied wrongdoing, but now finds himself subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland, according to reports today.
He has allegedly been questioned by investigators related to allegations which led to his ban, but has not been arrested.
- By Michael Pavitt
- Republished with permission insidethegames.biz