BRASILIA: Romario has welcomed the suspension by FIFA of secretary-general Jerome Valcke last week linked to allegations over a ticket re-sale deal writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The 1994 World Cup winner is now a member of the Brazilian senate and heads a parliamentary inquiry into the business affairs of the national football confederation which was set up after the arrest of ex-CBF president Jose Maria Marin in May.

Romario had been a highly vocal critic of FIFA’s demands on Brazil over the staging of the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup. The world federation’s supervision of preparations was entrusted to Valcke who, on one occasion, complained that local organisers needed “a kick up the backside.”

Those comments prompted a fall-out with the Brazilian government but, ultimatelty, did appear to produce the desire effect.

Romario said: “I’m very happy with this news [of Valcke’s suspension] and this goes for all Brazilians. Now it’s the turn of this loudmouth to take a kick in the backside.

“We put up with his arrogant manner even though I protested on a number of occasions that the government should take a stand and refuse to accept him as go-between.

“FIFA should not be satisfied with relieving Valcke of his duties but should be started again from scratch. His departure because of a tickets scandal further reinforces the importance of the our own inquiry.”

The closing weeks of the World Cup finals last year were accompanied by allegations concerning a black market tickets operation.

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