The crisis at Fifa has deepened after Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man has been linked to a $10 million payment that the FBI allege was a bribe paid by the South African Football Association.
Jerome Valcke is accused of authorising the payment from South Africa’s FA via Fifa’s bank account in Zurich to Jack Warner and other officials. It is alleged that Warner supported South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2012 World Cup in return for the payment.
The Telegraph reports that the payment sits at the heart of a wider scandal engulfing Fifa, which has so far seen 18 officials indicted on corruption charges.
Fifa have issued a statement saying Valcke was not involved and that the payment was actually by Julio Grondona who died last year.
However, Press Association Sport has seen a copy of a letter from the South African FA the payment addressed to Mr Valcke.
BOMBSHELL: Letter from South Africa FA to FIFA instructing $10m payment to Warner WAS addressed to Jerome Valcke pic.twitter.com/b0yKBPRAcA
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) June 2, 2015
Mr Valcke is a close ally of Blatter and if he were found to have the payment, it would raise fresh questions over Blatter’s judgement just days after he was re-elected Fifa president.
Valcke has not been charged with any crimes, nor have US authorities made any public allegations against him. The US has stated that it is only at the beginning of its investigation and that more officials may face charges at a later date.
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