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Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA, along with the renowned French footballer Michel Platini, has re-entered the Swiss legal system facing fraud charges. Their current court proceedings follow a previous acquittal in 2022 regarding a controversial payment of 2 million Swiss francs (approximately £1.6 million) that was made to Platini and approved by Blatter in 2011.
Both Blatter and Platini have consistently maintained their innocence, arguing that the payment was a delayed settlement for advisory services that Platini provided to FIFA during his career, including his time as president of UEFA, the governing body for European football.
Despite their acquittal, the Swiss federal prosecutor has appealed the verdict, leading to the new trial which is anticipated to conclude by Thursday, with a ruling expected on March 25.
During their appearance at an appeals court in Muttenz, located near Basel, Blatter, who is now 88 years old, reiterated his claim of innocence, stating, “When you talk about falsehoods, lies and deception, that’s not me. That didn’t exist in my whole life.”
Platini’s lawyer emphasized that the previous court was justified in determining that the disputed payment was legal. At 69, Platini boasts an impressive football legacy, having won the Ballon d’Or three times, leading France to success in the 1984 European Championship and securing the 1985 European Cup with Juventus. He later transitioned to coaching the French national team before assuming the UEFA presidency in 2007.
In 2015, both figures were accused of misleading FIFA regarding the legitimacy of the payment made to Platini. Blatter testified in the earlier trial that he had procured Platini’s advisory services in 1998 but indicated that FIFA was financially constrained and could not meet the 1 million Swiss francs annual fee initially requested. They agreed instead on a partial payment with the remaining balance deferred. Platini expressed his trust in Blatter, believing the payment would eventually be made.
Although he ceased working with FIFA in 2002, Platini did not initially demand the outstanding payment as it was unnecessary at the time, especially with FIFA’s financial struggles. However, in January 2011, he felt qualified to invoice FIFA, which led to the payment being processed after Blatter’s approval.
Following a lengthy investigation that began in 2015, Swiss prosecutors charged both men with forgery and fraud. Concurrently, FIFA imposed an ethics ban, initially for eight years, although this punishment was later mitigated.
In 2022, a Swiss criminal court in Bellinzona exonerated Blatter and Platini, accepting their narrative of a “gentlemen’s agreement” regarding the payment. Blatter’s career at FIFA commenced in 1975, where he ascended from general secretary in 1981 to the president in 1998, serving for 17 years before stepping down amidst corruption allegations. Platini, who was once a strong contender for the FIFA presidency, subsequently withdrew his candidacy.
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