Football’s crisis-hit world governing body has dramatically released its secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man since 2007, from his duties “until further notice” in the wake of allegations involving the resale of World Cup tickets. Fifa, in turmoil since a series of dramatic arrests in May and subsequent US corruption charges, said in a statement that Valcke had been put on leave after being implicated in a scheme to sell World Cup tickets above face value and share in the profits. He has denied the allegations through his lawyers. “Fifa today announced that its secretary general Jérôme Valcke has been put on leave and released from his duties effective immediately until further notice,” it said. “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.” Valcke, long seen as Blatter’s fixer and responsible for overseeing Fifa’s commercial contracts and its showpiece tournaments, has been under mounting pressure in recent months. The organisation is determined to be seen as cleaning up its act, in the midst of an internal reform process headed by the former International Olympic Committee executive François Carrard that has…