Ticketing scam fifa suspends secretary general
You're referring to the recent FIFA corruption scandal!
Yes, you're correct. FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, has been embroiled in a massive corruption scandal involving ticketing and other issues. As a result, FIFA's Secretary General, Jérôme Valcke, has been suspended by the organization's Ethics Committee.
Here's a brief summary of the situation:
In September 2015, Swiss authorities raided FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and arrested several top FIFA officials, including seven current or former FIFA executives, on charges of corruption and money laundering. The investigation was sparked by a U.S. Department of Justice probe into FIFA's ticketing practices.
The allegations centered around the sale of tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with claims that officials had accepted bribes in exchange for favorable treatment. The investigation also uncovered evidence of widespread corruption in FIFA's bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
In October 2015, FIFA's Ethics Committee suspended Jérôme Valcke, the organization's Secretary General, pending an investigation into allegations of corruption and abuse of power. Valcke was accused of being involved in the sale of World Cup tickets to unauthorized third parties, as well as other ethical breaches.
In November 2015, FIFA's Executive Committee voted to suspend Valcke, effectively removing him from his position as Secretary General. The suspension was later confirmed by the FIFA Ethics Committee in December 2015.
The scandal has led to a major overhaul of FIFA's leadership, with Sepp Blatter, the organization's long-time President, resigning in June 2015. Gianni Infantino, a former UEFA General Secretary, was elected as FIFA's new President in February 2016.
The investigation and subsequent suspensions have sent shockwaves through the world of international soccer, leading to calls for greater transparency and accountability within the sport.