Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Face Second Trial Over FIFA Payment Scandal
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are back in the courtroom once again, facing a second trial over a controversial £1.6 million payment that continues to cast a long shadow over world football. The former FIFA president and ex-UEFA boss were initially acquitted of fraud charges in 2022, but Swiss federal prosecutors have now appealed that decision, bringing them back before the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of Switzerland’s Criminal Court.
This legal battle stems from a 2011 payment of 2 million Swiss francs to Platini for advisory work he allegedly carried out a decade earlier. Prosecutors argue that the money was unjustified and fraudulently claimed. Blatter and Platini, however, have maintained their innocence, insisting that the payment was based on a "gentlemen's agreement" between them.
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As they arrived at the Swiss court on Monday, Blatter, now 88, remained defiant, calling the appeal "absolute nonsense" and a continuation of what he sees as a witch hunt against him. He firmly believes that the court will uphold the previous ruling. Platini, on the other hand, has been more vocal about his frustration with the case, vowing to continue his fight against what he calls an injustice.
The original trial, which took seven years of investigation, concluded in 2022 with both men being acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence proving fraud. The judge at the time found their explanation credible and cast doubt on the prosecution’s claims. However, Swiss authorities were not satisfied with that verdict, leading to the current appeal.
This case has not only ended the careers of two of football’s most powerful figures but also disrupted the leadership of the sport at the highest level. Platini was widely expected to succeed Blatter as FIFA president before the scandal derailed his ambitions. Both were suspended from football in 2015 following FIFA’s ethics committee investigation, and though their bans have since expired, their reputations remain tarnished.
With this new trial set to last four days, the football world will once again be watching closely. If found guilty, Blatter and Platini could face further legal consequences, possibly marking a dramatic final chapter in their long and controversial football administration careers. For now, the fight continues, and both men remain adamant that justice will be on their side.
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