Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been acquitted once again in a case that had been ongoing for nearly a decade. The two were initially cleared of fraud charges in 2022, but Swiss federal prosecutors appealed that decision, which led to the recent ruling by a court in Muttenz, near Basel, Switzerland. The charges centered around a payment of 2 million Swiss francs made by Blatter to Platini in 2011, which prosecutors claimed had no legal basis. However, both Blatter and Platini consistently argued that the payment was for legitimate advisory work Platini had done for FIFA, as agreed upon in a “gentlemen’s agreement.”
The case had its roots in the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal, one of the biggest in football history, which led to a wave of investigations, resignations, and criminal charges against several FIFA officials. Both Blatter and Platini were impacted by the scandal, which ultimately ended Platini’s hopes of succeeding Blatter as FIFA president.
After being acquitted, both men expressed their relief and joy. Blatter called the court’s ruling a victory for him and his family, while Platini emphasized that the “persecution” against him was finally over, and that his honor had been restored. Platini’s lawyer has suggested that they might take legal action against those responsible for the criminal proceedings, claiming there was no evidence to support the case after more than ten years of investigation.
The case highlights the long and contentious legal aftermath of the FIFA corruption scandal, which continues to cast a shadow over the sport’s governing body.