FIFA ethics judges open case against Valcke

Zurich - FIFA ethics judges have formally opened a case against Jerome Valcke, who faces a nine-year ban from football.

The ethics committee's judging chamber says it "decided to institute formal adjudicatory proceedings" against FIFA's former secretary general after studying a prosecution file sent by ethics investigators.

The judges acted one day after extending Valcke's 90-day interim ban by 45 days.

Valcke is charged with several violations of the FIFA code of ethics while serving as President Sepp Blatter's top aide since 2007. The charges include accepting gifts and conflicts of interest.

The judges gave no details of the case, citing Valcke's "privacy rights and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty."

A hearing in Zurich is likely within weeks.

Valcke, who denies wrongdoing, was suspended from work by FIFA in September.