BBC informed that a FIFA statement said it had "been made aware of a series of allegations involving the secretary general". The Frenchman, who has held his role at FIFA since 2007, said he denied the "fabricated, outrageous" allegations.

Valcke, who last month was considering standing to be the new president, is Blatter's number two at the organisation but now faces a formal investigation by the FIFA ethics committee.

FIFA has recently set up a taskforce to tackle corruption which aims to "restore the integrity and reputation" of the organization.