Fifa Rehires Sacked Marketing Chief

FIFA has dramatically reinstated former marketing chief Jerome Valcke as the
organisation’s new general secretary despite firing him six months ago for his
role in the dispute with MasterCard over sponsorship of the next two World Cups.

Former marketing director Valcke and three marketing executives were
dismissed in December following a court verdict that the governing body had
acted improperly in its negotiations with MasterCard over a renewal of its World
Cup sponsorship for the 2010 and 2014 tournaments.

FIFA had agreed a deal with Visa but was hit by legal action from MasterCard
over the lack of a first refusal option that the latter brand had written into
its contract.

MasterCard and FIFA agreed an out of court settlement of $90m last week over
the issue with the governing body now in negotiations with Visa with regards to
reinstating the dormant deal.

The reintroduction of Valcke, who led the initial Visa negotiations, is a
shock move given that FIFA effectively laid the blame for the court case at his
door.

Valcke’s duties had been picked up by FIFA global marketing director Eelco
van der Noll, who is now leaving the post to take up a position with marketing
agency Momentum in the US.

Valcke replaces Urs Linsi as general secretary of the organisation.