Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once revered figures in global football, are back in the Swiss courts, facing fraud accusations linked to a disputed payment made years ago.
**Blatter and Platini Return to Swiss Court Over Fraud Charges**
**Blatter and Platini Return to Swiss Court Over Fraud Charges**
Former football powerhouses face renewed legal scrutiny in fraud allegations stemming from a controversial payment in 2011.
On Monday, Sepp Blatter, 88, and Michel Platini, 69, appeared before an appeals court in Muttenz, Switzerland, marking their second legal confrontation in under three years. The former FIFA president and the French football icon duo are embroiled in a case concerning the 2 million Swiss franc (£1.6 million) payment made to Platini in 2011, which Blatter had authorized.
Their 2022 trial resulted in an acquittal, with both men asserting that the payment was merely belated compensation for advisory work done by Platini, who previously served as UEFA's president. However, the Swiss federal prosecutor's appeal has led to this new trial. A verdict is anticipated on 25 March.
At the hearing, Blatter reiterated his innocence, stating, "When you talk about falsehoods, lies and deception, that's not me. That didn't exist in my whole life." His legal counsel for Platini praised the earlier court's decision, emphasizing that the payment was lawful.
Platini’s storied career includes a three-time Ballon d'Or victory and leading France to the 1984 European Championship. In 2015, prosecutors started investigating the pair, alleging they misled FIFA regarding the payments.
In previous testimonies, Blatter explained that he had hired Platini in 1998 but could not initially meet the 1 million Swiss franc fee he had requested. They agreed instead to a partial payment. Platini, who ceased his work with FIFA in 2002, later sought the payment, which was then authorized by Blatter in January 2011.
The investigations that followed led to both figures being suspended from football ethics in 2015, initially for eight years—though their bans were later reduced. This latest trial forms part of the ongoing fallout from a history full of allegations and corruption linked to FIFA's leadership, with hopes for a fair resolution resting heavily on the upcoming verdict.
Their 2022 trial resulted in an acquittal, with both men asserting that the payment was merely belated compensation for advisory work done by Platini, who previously served as UEFA's president. However, the Swiss federal prosecutor's appeal has led to this new trial. A verdict is anticipated on 25 March.
At the hearing, Blatter reiterated his innocence, stating, "When you talk about falsehoods, lies and deception, that's not me. That didn't exist in my whole life." His legal counsel for Platini praised the earlier court's decision, emphasizing that the payment was lawful.
Platini’s storied career includes a three-time Ballon d'Or victory and leading France to the 1984 European Championship. In 2015, prosecutors started investigating the pair, alleging they misled FIFA regarding the payments.
In previous testimonies, Blatter explained that he had hired Platini in 1998 but could not initially meet the 1 million Swiss franc fee he had requested. They agreed instead to a partial payment. Platini, who ceased his work with FIFA in 2002, later sought the payment, which was then authorized by Blatter in January 2011.
The investigations that followed led to both figures being suspended from football ethics in 2015, initially for eight years—though their bans were later reduced. This latest trial forms part of the ongoing fallout from a history full of allegations and corruption linked to FIFA's leadership, with hopes for a fair resolution resting heavily on the upcoming verdict.
