Valcke under investigation as FIFA reveals Blatter wage

Zurich - Switzerland on Thursday launched criminal proceedings against former FIFA number two Jerome Valcke, heightening corruption troubles at the world body as it revealed the salary of fallen leader Sepp Blatter for the first time.

FIFA announced on March 17, 2016 a $122 million loss in 2015 which it blamed partly on legal fees and other extra costs caused by a corruption scandal. [Photo/Agencies]

Blatter received $3.75 million in 2015, FIFA announced in its accounts, but the transparency campaign was overshadowed by the growing probe into the running of the organisation which recorded a $122 million loss last year.

The Swiss Attorney General's office said that as part of an inquiry into FIFA's running it has launched criminal proceedings against Frenchman Valcke, the former FIFA secretary general, "on suspicion of various acts of criminal mismanagement."

The office said it had begun "searches and interviews" on Thursday and that the criminal probe was opened in response to two specific criminal complaints made during an investigation into his FIFA tenure by FIFA's ethics committee.

Valcke, who was Blatter's right-hand man for nearly a decade, was sacked in January and banned from football for 12 years over misconduct in television deals and World Cup ticket sales.

The widening investigation highlighted the battle faced by new FIFA president Gianni Infantino who has promised reform and transparency.

Blatter, 80, who has registered an appeal against his six year ban from world football at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, fought to stop his salary being revealed during his 17 years in charge.

But FIFA said he earned 3.63 million Swiss francs ($3.75 million/3.3 million euros) last year while Valcke earned 2.12 million Swiss francs.

Blatter did not get a performance bonus in 2015 however so his package in earlier years was probably substantially higher. But he did get a $450,000 "variable compensation" payment for reaching 40 years with FIFA.