Swiss justice clears Blatter and Platini of fraud

By Andrew Warshaw

July 8 - Despite having both been banned from the game by FIFA and following a seven-year investigation, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the two most powerful officials in world football, have were acquitted today in dramatic fashion for fraud, embezzlement and other acts of corruption. charges in a criminal case brought by Swiss judicial authorities that has gripped global football politics.

Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, and Platini, the former UEFA boss who courted and coveted Blatter's job but never got it, have been found not guilty of defrauded FIFA, an extremely important decision in their respective bids to clear their names but a blow – not for the first time – to Swiss justice and FIFA.

The verdict follows an 11-day trial last month at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona over FIFA's so-called "unfair payment" of $2 million to Platini with Blatter's approval in 2011, for a decade of work. earlier.

The case ended up bringing down the careers of both men. Both were banned by FIFA's Ethics Committee over the payment, removing Blatter, now 86, as FIFA President and ending Platini's chances to succeed his former mentor. .

The infamous payment covered a "gentleman's agreement" between the two for Platini's consulting work when the Frenchman worked as a presidential adviser during Blatter's first term, from 1998 to 2002.

The timing of his approval was hugely significant, coming just months before Blatter was re-elected as FIFA President in 2011, when he ran unopposed. Prosecutors found that both defendants lied about the reason for the payment by arguing that it was "without legal basis" and that he had illegally enriched Platini.

But Blatter and Platini have long claimed they did absolutely nothing wrong and that the money was a backdated salary, even though there was apparently no written contract.

The pair's defense that everything was above board may have failed both before the FIFA Ethics Committee and later in separate appeals before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, even though Platini's ban has been reduced, but now their reputation has been partly restored. Swiss prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand had requested a 20-month suspended prison sentence for the two men.

"Following the decision of the judges of the court of Bellinzona, this morning, I wanted to express my joy for all my relatives that justice is finally served after seven years of lies and manipulation", said a defiant Platini after the judgment . "The truth came to light during this trial."

Alluding to other lawsuits, he added, "I kept saying it: my fight is a fight against injustice. I won a first match. In this case, there to the culprits who did not appear during this trial. Let them count on me, we will see each other again. Because I will not give up and I will go to the end in my quest for the truth."

"Believe me, going from world football legend to devil is very difficult, especially when it comes to you in a totally unfair way."

Platini's FIFA ban expired in October 2021 and today's verdict should pave the way for the former French international superstar to return to football administration.

Platini did not identify the so-called culprits, but one of those he referred to was most likely current FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was the Frenchman's number two at the UEFA. Platini has long alleged there was a conspiracy to prevent him from succeeding Blatter. Last year, he filed a criminal complaint against Infantino and others in France.

Infantino remains under criminal investigation by Swiss prosecutors over a series of undocumented meetings he had with the Swiss attorney general's office and whether he changed the course investigations and justice in the country.

As for Blatter, although he too had a dark cloud lifted by today's judgment, at 86 and in poor health it is unlikely he will ever return to the game, not least because the last year he was banned for the second time by FIFA Judges for alleged financial malfeasance.

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