Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter and French football legend, Michel Platini have been cleared of fraud charges for a second time, as a Swiss court ruled in their favor on Tuesday.
The Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in Muttenz, near Basel, upheld their 2022 acquittal, dismissing Swiss federal prosecutors’ appeal against the previous ruling.
A Legal Battle That Shattered Careers
The case revolved around a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.26 million) payment Blatter authorized for Platini in 2011.
The money was a consultancy fee for work Platini carried out between 1998 and 2002, which he claimed was partly deferred due to FIFA’s financial struggles at the time.
The scandal erupted in 2015, when Platini was UEFA president and widely seen as Blatter’s successor at FIFA.
Instead, both men were banned from football, effectively ending Platini’s ambitions of leading FIFA.
Platini’s Lawyer: “These Criminal Proceedings Have Definitively Failed”
After the latest acquittal, Platini’s lawyer, Dominic Nellen, slammed the Swiss authorities, stating:
“After two acquittals, even the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland must realise that these criminal proceedings have definitively failed.”
“Michel Platini must finally be left in peace in criminal matters.”
Nellen also highlighted the severe consequences the case had on Platini’s career, saying:
“The criminal proceedings have had not only legal but also massive personal and professional consequences for Michel Platini—although no incriminating evidence was ever presented.”
“Among other things, the criminal proceedings prevented his election as FIFA president in 2016.”
Blatter and Platini Walk Free – But Football’s Reputation Remains Stained
While the verdict clears Blatter and Platini legally, the corruption scandal has left a lasting impact on football governance.
The affair forced Blatter’s resignation and derailed Platini’s career.
Now, with two courts ruling in their favor, the long-running saga appears to be finally over—but questions about FIFA’s past dealings remain.
