Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke was suspended from duties “until further notice” in the wake of misconduct allegations, soccer’s governing body said Thursday. In a statement, FIFA said its ethics committee would launch an investigation into Valcke, who was implicated in a scheme to resell World Cup tickets at inflated prices. The 54-year-old Frenchman, who has served as outgoing President Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man since 2007, denied the claims through his lawyers. FIFA has been rocked by allegations of widespread corruption since May, when Swiss police arrested seven of its top executives. The U.S. subsequently indicted those seven men and two other FIFA officials on bribery and racketeering charges. Valcke had considered running to replace the embattled Blatter, who announced he would step down in June.