The corruption scandal that has rocked FIFA for the last four months claimed its highest-ranking official Thursday when the world soccer's governing body announced that Secretary General Jerome Valcke has been suspended after it was revealed he was the focus of a potentially lucrative deal involving the sale of 2014 World Cup tickets.
In a one-paragraph statement, FIFA said it has been made aware of a "series of allegations" and has requested a formal investigation by its internal ethics committee. FIFA did not specify details but said Valcke, second only to embattled President Sepp Blatter in the group's power structure, "has been put on leave and released from his duties effective immediately.