World soccer governing body FIFA has announced the dismissal of Secretary General Jérôme Valcke with immediate effect.

A statement uploaded this afternoon on fifa.com said: “The FIFA Emergency Committee decided, on 9 January 2016, to dismiss Jérôme Valcke from the position of FIFA Secretary General with immediate effect. Jérôme Valcke is therefore no longer the Secretary General of FIFA.

“The employment relationship between FIFA and Jérôme Valcke has also been terminated.

Jérôme Valcke was provisionally released from his duties as Secretary General on 17 September 2015, and on 7 January 2016, formal adjudicatory proceedings were opened against him by the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert. The provisional suspension imposed on Jérôme Valcke on 8 October 2015 and extended on 6 January 2016 continues to be valid.

“The duties of the Secretary General will continue to be assumed by the Acting Secretary General, Dr Markus Kattner.”

•Photo shows FIFA ex-Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.