Friday 18 September 2015 12:40, UK
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke tried to secure a pay-off of several million pounds from FIFA just a week before he was suspended, the Press Association understands.
Valcke was suspended by football's world governing body on Thursday pending an investigation into allegations he was implicated in a World Cup tickets scheme. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The Frenchman had announced in July he would leave the organisation along with outgoing president Sepp Blatter in February, although sources close to FIFA have told the PA that Valcke has been keen for some time to make an early exit.
Valcke's contract had three years to run and it is understood he wanted to be paid out in full for the remainder of the deal but was unsuccessful in negotiating a pay-off. In 2007, his predecessor Urs Linsi was given a pay-off worth £3.6m.
Valcke was suspended after emails and documents were released which suggested he was aware that a Swiss marketing company were selling off World Cup and Confederation Cup tickets for almost five times the face value.
The emails and documents show Valcke signed off contracts with Swiss firm JB Sports Marketing AG for category one tickets for a number of matches. The company also claims it entered into a profit-sharing agreement with Valcke - though no money changed hands - and he strenuously denies asking for or receiving any money from JB Sports.
FIFA's statement on Thursday said: "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."
Deputy general secretary Markus Kattner, who also signed the original contract with JB Sports, has taken over from Valcke on a temporary basis.
According to Sky sources, Blatter believes privately that Valcke has done nothing wrong but felt he had to act in the current climate.
He has also emailed FIFA staff saying the organisation can recover from this "difficult situation".
Blatter, who has pulled out of a trip to Moscow to mark 1,000 days to the start of the 2018 World Cup, said: "FIFA is confident of its ability to recover from the present difficult situation and restore its reputation for the good of the game."
UEFA expressed its dismay at the latest scandal to hit FIFA.
"We've seen, read and heard about these allegations. They are very serious allegations," said UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.
"They are allegations which are sad, we feel very sad about this news coming out on a daily basis.
"We are disappointed with this news but a process has started and a new president will be elected which will lead to reforms which are certainly needed.
"Something needs to be done and will be done to restore FIFA's image"
