FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke released from duties

The money trail has arrived at FIFA's No. 2.

In yet another massive development concerning the corruption scandal that is engulfing football's governing body, Owen Gibson of the Guardian reported on Thursday that Jerome Valcke, FIFA's secretary general and Sepp Blatter's right-hand man since 2007, has been accused of being involved in a scheme to profit from selling 2014 World Cup tickets above face value.

FIFA subsequently published a press statement announcing that Valcke, who apparently denied the accusation, has been released from his duties immediately and indefinitely:

FIFA today announced that its Secretary General Jerome Valcke has been put on leave and released from his duties effective immediately until further notice. Further, 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.

It's worth noting that only Blatter can dismiss Valcke, as the FIFA Statutes declare: "Only the President may propose the appointment or dismissal of the Secretary General."

Specifically, the allegations came from a former consultant at JB Sports, a company that struck a deal with FIFA to sell tickets for the 2014 World Cup before the contract was cancelled. Documents seen by the Guardian reportedly suggest that Valcke was to profit from an agreement to sell the tickets at inflated prices.

One email that was apparently sent to Valcke from Benny Alon, the consultant, states in reference to World Cup tickets: "we made US$114,000 each on Germany." However, it is understood that no tickets were actually sold.

Back in July, Valcke indicated that he would step down in February alongside Blatter, saying: "Whoever becomes the new FIFA president should have a new secretary general - it is the most important relationship for any organisation."

Related: FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke suggests he will step down alongside Blatter in February

Prior to that, in early June, it was reported by The New York Times' William K. Rashbaum and Matt Apuzzo that Valcke "made $10 million in bank transactions that are central elements of the bribery scandal engulfing international soccer."

Valcke's release follows announcement from U.S. attorney general Loretta Lynch, who revealed that new arrests and charges against "individuals and entities" are expected in the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation into the corruption scandal encompassing FIFA.

Related: U.S. attorney general announces fresh charges, arrests anticipated in FIFA corruption scandal

In May, the U.S. Department of Justice announced indictments against 18 individuals, including 14 FIFA officials, on football-related corruption charges, to which four have pleaded guilty.