Sepp Blatter, who previously led FIFA, and French soccer star Michel Platini have returned to Swiss courts because they face fraud charges. A Swiss court cleared both men in 2022 regarding a payment of 2 million Swiss francs, equal to £1.6 million, which Blatter approved for Platini back in 2011. They claimed no wrongdoing occurred and explained the money represented delayed compensation for advisory services Platini provided to FIFA. Platini previously served as president of UEFA, which governs European soccer.
Federal prosecutors from Switzerland appealed this decision. The current legal proceedings should continue through Thursday, and judges plan to announce their verdict on March 25. Both appeared at an appeals court located in Muttenz near Basel on Monday. Blatter, age 88, strongly maintained his innocence during the proceedings.
He stated to the court that falsehoods, lies, and deception never existed throughout his entire life. His testimony emphasized his belief that he acted properly regarding the payment situation. The legal representative for 69-year-old Platini argued that the previous court correctly determined the disputed 2 million franc payment followed proper procedures. Platini enjoyed remarkable success as a player during his athletic career.
He won the prestigious Ballon d'Or three separate times, which represents the highest individual recognition for soccer players in Europe. His accomplishments on the field earned him tremendous respect throughout the sport. As captain, Platini led France to win the European Championship in 1984 and helped Juventus claim the European Cup the following year. His career after playing included coaching the French national team before he became UEFA president in 2007.
Prosecutors first charged both men in 2015, alleging they misled FIFA officials about the nature of payments sent to Platini. The case has continued through various legal stages since those initial accusations surfaced. During his earlier testimony, Blatter explained he requested Platini serve as his advisor back in 1998. He claimed FIFA lacked funds at that time to pay the full annual fee of 1 million Swiss francs that Platini requested.
The two men agreed upon a partial payment arrangement with the remaining amounts to follow later. Platini testified he trusted the president and believed payment would eventually come his way when finances improved. Platini ended his FIFA work in 2002 but did not immediately seek his unpaid compensation. He explained to judges he had no urgent need for those funds then, and Blatter claimed FIFA faced financial difficulties.
By January 2011, Platini decided to submit an invoice for past services. Blatter approved the payment shortly afterward. Swiss authorities began investigating this transaction in 2015 and eventually accused both men of committing forgery and fraud based on their findings. FIFA officials suspended both Blatter and Platini from all soccer activities in 2015 due to ethics violations. The organization initially banned them for eight years, though appeals processes later shortened their exclusion periods.
The federal criminal court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, accepted their explanation of a verbal agreement between gentlemen concerning the payment, leading to their acquittal in 2022. Blatter, a Swiss businessman and sports administrator, started at FIFA in 1975 before advancing to general secretary by 1981. He rose to president of the global soccer governing organization seventeen years later, in 1998. He led FIFA for 17 consecutive years until stepping down amid widespread corruption investigations.
Federal prosecutors from Switzerland appealed this decision. The current legal proceedings should continue through Thursday, and judges plan to announce their verdict on March 25. Both appeared at an appeals court located in Muttenz near Basel on Monday. Blatter, age 88, strongly maintained his innocence during the proceedings.
He stated to the court that falsehoods, lies, and deception never existed throughout his entire life. His testimony emphasized his belief that he acted properly regarding the payment situation. The legal representative for 69-year-old Platini argued that the previous court correctly determined the disputed 2 million franc payment followed proper procedures. Platini enjoyed remarkable success as a player during his athletic career.
He won the prestigious Ballon d'Or three separate times, which represents the highest individual recognition for soccer players in Europe. His accomplishments on the field earned him tremendous respect throughout the sport. As captain, Platini led France to win the European Championship in 1984 and helped Juventus claim the European Cup the following year. His career after playing included coaching the French national team before he became UEFA president in 2007.
Prosecutors first charged both men in 2015, alleging they misled FIFA officials about the nature of payments sent to Platini. The case has continued through various legal stages since those initial accusations surfaced. During his earlier testimony, Blatter explained he requested Platini serve as his advisor back in 1998. He claimed FIFA lacked funds at that time to pay the full annual fee of 1 million Swiss francs that Platini requested.
The two men agreed upon a partial payment arrangement with the remaining amounts to follow later. Platini testified he trusted the president and believed payment would eventually come his way when finances improved. Platini ended his FIFA work in 2002 but did not immediately seek his unpaid compensation. He explained to judges he had no urgent need for those funds then, and Blatter claimed FIFA faced financial difficulties.
By January 2011, Platini decided to submit an invoice for past services. Blatter approved the payment shortly afterward. Swiss authorities began investigating this transaction in 2015 and eventually accused both men of committing forgery and fraud based on their findings. FIFA officials suspended both Blatter and Platini from all soccer activities in 2015 due to ethics violations. The organization initially banned them for eight years, though appeals processes later shortened their exclusion periods.
The federal criminal court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, accepted their explanation of a verbal agreement between gentlemen concerning the payment, leading to their acquittal in 2022. Blatter, a Swiss businessman and sports administrator, started at FIFA in 1975 before advancing to general secretary by 1981. He rose to president of the global soccer governing organization seventeen years later, in 1998. He led FIFA for 17 consecutive years until stepping down amid widespread corruption investigations.
