FIFA general secretary under threat after explosive Qatar 2022 bribe allegations

By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich

May 30 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke’s position was unexpectedly plunged into severe danger·today·when he admitted that a damaging email he sent suggesting the 2022 World Cup was bought was genuine.

Valcke’s email was sent to banned FIFA vice-president Jack Warner who made it public late last night in reaction to being temporarily suspended by FIFA’s Ethics Committee, along with one-time Presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam, for allegedly offering or paying bribes to Caribbean associations.

Warner claimed that in the email exchange, which apparently took place on May 18, Valcke had not only questioned why Bin Hammam had decided to run for president against Sepp Blatter but also claimed that the Qatari might have bought the World Cup for his country.

According to Warner’s explosive statement, Valcke wrote: “For MBH, I never understood why he was running.

“If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore JSB.

“Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC.”

As he arrived at a Zurich hotel for a scheduled meeting of CONCACAF, to which all Caribbean federations belong, Valcke was briefly questioned by reporters over Warner’s sensational allegations.

Warner, he insisted, had picked out “selective parts” of the email exchange but then admitted his words were accurate.

“It was a private email and we will discuss it,” Valcke told reporters.

“He [Warner] sent me an email asking if I wanted that [Bin Hammam to withdrew) and he said I should ask Bin Hammam to pull out.”

Who said what to whom, and when, has become a recurring theme among all those involved in the ongoing bribery scandal.

But as he left the hotel with Blatter to attend what promised to be a tasty meeting meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee – without Bin Hammam and Warner – Valcke was asked by insideworldfootball whether he would now resign.

As he got into an official FIFA car, Valcke threw up his arms as if to say “who knows?” but is certain to face a barrage of questioning at an emergency press conference called by Blatter for later in the day.

Valcke also stressed he had no part to play in the suspension of Bin Hammam by FIFA’s Ethics Committee over the unprecendented bribes-for-votes scandal that has sent shock waves across the globe.

Bin Hammam, like Warner, has hit back with a vengeance over being temporarily excluded from all football-related activities and claims that Valcke was instrumental in bringing about his suspension.

Bin Hammam claims Valcke unduly influenced members of the Ethics committee who made the ruling on Monday.

But Valcke retorted: “The first time I met the chairman of the Ethics Committee was yesterday at 5pm before we went to the press conference.

“I had no contact with anyone.”

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