The football corruption scandal ends: Blatter, Platini acquitted

Posted : 25 March 2025

After nearly a decade of legal battles, Sepp Blatter, former FIFA president, and Michel Platini, former UEFA president, found themselves victorious once again. This time, their acquittal on charges of fraud, forgery, and misusing over $2.2 million of FIFA funds was upheld after an appeal in the Swiss Criminal Court. The prosecution had sought prison sentences for both men, but the court dismissed their claims, marking a significant legal victory for the two former football giants.

The case stems from a controversial payment of 2 million Swiss francs (roughly $2.27 million) that Blatter authorized to be paid to Platini in 2011. Both men insisted the payment was a consultancy fee for work Platini had done for FIFA between 1998 and 2002, with the amount delayed due to FIFA’s financial situation at the time. The legal proceedings against them began in 2015, when the investigation became public, and had a profound impact on Platini’s ambitions to succeed Blatter as FIFA president.

In 2022, Blatter and Platini were acquitted of the charges in a previous trial. However, the Swiss Federal Prosecution filed an appeal, seeking to overturn the acquittal. This recent appeal has now been rejected, reaffirming the earlier court’s decision. Despite this, there is still the potential for a final appeal to the Swiss Federal Court, though it would only focus on limited legal points.

Dominique Nelen, Platini's lawyer, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that the criminal proceedings had ultimately failed. He called for Platini to be left alone, emphasizing that the legal battles should now come to an end. Platini himself has consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the case, insisting that the payment was simply an arrangement to supplement his salary.

The case has been a long and contentious journey for both men, with their reputations and careers on the line. Platini’s hopes of becoming FIFA president were dashed after the investigation into the payment surfaced in 2015. Although his suspension from football administration was later reduced, the scandal effectively ended his career in top football management, while Blatter also faced significant fallout during his tenure as FIFA president.

The 2022 indictment accused Blatter and Platini of deceiving FIFA by falsely claiming that FIFA owed Platini the payment for his consulting work. The prosecution argued that both defendants had misrepresented the situation in their dealings with FIFA. However, in their defense, the two men argued that the payment was part of a “gentleman's agreement,” and doubts were raised about the legality of the payment itself.

Blatter, now 89, continues to defend his actions, labeling the proceedings as a "witch hunt." Platini, likewise, has maintained that there was no corruption involved in the payment and no fraud committed. His lawyer further argued that the entire case was aimed at blocking Platini from assuming the FIFA presidency. Nelen suggested that forces were at play to prevent Platini from taking over Blatter’s position, with the legal battle seemingly targeting his career progression at every turn.

The football corruption scandal ends: Blatter, Platini acquitted

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