Former FIFA secretary-general Valcke challenges 10-year ban

Former FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke has filed an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the 10-year sanction imposed on him by the appeal committee of the world football governing body.

"Jerome Valcke, former Secretary General of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision issued by the FIFA Appeal Committee dated June 24, 2016 (with reasons notified on February 3, 2017), in which he was banned from taking part in any football-related activity for a period of ten years," a statement released by CAS said on Tuesday.

"Jerome Valcke seeks to have the challenged decision set aside in order for the sanction imposed on him to be lifted definitively," CAS added.

Valcke was dismissed on September 17, 2015 after leading FIFA's general secretariat since 2007.

He was allegedly involved in the sale of World Cup tickets above their official price, and was initially suspended for 12 years from engaging in any soccer-related activity, which was then reduced to 10 years.

CAS said that an arbitration procedure is in progress, noting that a panel of three arbitrators will be established.

The panel will then hold a hearing and deliberate, and at a later date will issue a decision in the form of an arbitral award.

--IANS

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