Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has expressed his disbelief at news of the sudden suspension of FIFA’s secretary general Jérôme Valcke.
At today’s (Friday) press conference hosted at the Gunners’ London Colney training centre, Wenger reacted strongly to questions about the Frenchman, who was appointed as secretary general in 2007.
As widely reported recently, there have been newspaper allegations implicating Valcke in a scheme to sell World Cup tickets for above face value.
When Wenger was asked about the suspension and whether he ‘despaired about the governing body’, he replied: “I was at first surprised. And I couldn’t believe that. But at the moment nothing is proven.
“And I think that they are accusations from one individual, a human being, and you [have to let] the justice work.
“I cannot believe that the general secretary of FIFA sold tickets for his own profit. I don’t believe that, and I hope my belief is right.”
In a press statement, FIFA said yesterday that Valcke had been “put on leave and released from his duties effective immediately until further notice.
“Further, FIFA has been made aware of a series of allegations involving the secretary general and has requested a formal investigation by the FIFA Ethics Committee.”
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