Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and French football legend Michel Platini have been acquitted of corruption charges by a Swiss appeals court, marking the latest chapter in a long-running legal battle over allegations of fraud at the global football body.
The court in Muttenz, near Basel, on Tuesday cleared both men of any wrongdoing concerning a 2 million Swiss franc (£1.6m) payment Blatter made to Platini in 2011. The two have consistently denied any impropriety, insisting the transfer was legitimate.
Blatter, 89, and Platini, 69, were first acquitted of fraud charges in 2022, but Swiss federal prosecutors appealed the decision, leading to a retrial. The case stemmed from FIFA’s corruption scandal in 2015, which saw the footballing world rocked by allegations of fraud, bribery, and money laundering. A dramatic raid in Zurich, linked to a separate U.S. investigation, exposed widespread collusion between FIFA officials and sports marketing executives.
The scandal forced Blatter to step down as FIFA president and derailed Platini’s ambitions of succeeding him. Swiss prosecutors later accused the pair of deceiving FIFA by making a payment with “no legal basis.” They alleged that Platini had fraudulently claimed compensation for advisory work done for FIFA years earlier.
However, both Blatter and Platini maintained that the money was a belated payment for work Platini had undertaken as an adviser to Blatter in 1998. The court in Bellinzona had previously ruled that the payment was part of a “gentlemen’s agreement,” a decision now reaffirmed by the appeals court.
Following the ruling, Blatter expressed relief and gratitude, saying, “Finally, the court has dispensed justice for me, my family, and my friends. This is a big thing.” Overcome with emotion, he added, “I’m full of emotion right now.”
Platini also welcomed the verdict, declaring, “Today, my honour has returned, and I am very happy.” He described the case as a decade-long “persecution” that was nowtotally over.”
Platini’s lawyer, Dominic Nellen, criticized the Swiss authorities for pursuing a case without substantial evidence. *“The Office of the Attorney General has not managed to find a single piece of incriminating evidence for over 10 years,”* he stated, calling the proceedings unjustified. He confirmed that legal action would be taken against those responsible for the criminal charges.
Platini, a three-time Ballon d’Or winner, captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship and won the 1985 European Cup with Juventus. He later coached the French national team and served as UEFA president from 2007 to 2015.
Blatter, a former Swiss businessman and sports administrator, joined FIFA in 1975, becoming general secretary in 1981 and president in 1998. His tenure saw significant growth in global football but ended in controversy amid corruption allegations.
With this latest verdict, both men seek to restore their reputations, though the broader legacy of FIFA’s corruption scandal continues to shape the footballing world.
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