In a Swiss court, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were found not guilty of fraud. In 2011, the two individuals, formerly among the most prominent characters in football, were cleared of illegally arranging the payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.7 million).
At the time, Platini was president of Uefa and a vice-president of Fifa, and he was expected to follow Blatter as president of Fifa, the governing body of international football.
Blatter authorized the payment to Platini for advisory services during his first tenure as president, from 1998 to 2002, in January 2011, but it destroyed both men’s careers in football.
Swiss prosecutors told the court in Bellinzona that the transaction “lacked a legal basis” and “illegally enriched Platini,” but the judge acquitted them. Platini will receive his CHF 2 million back.
Blatter and Platini appealed unsuccessfully to the Fifa appeals committee and later separately to the court of arbitration for sport. The Fifa ethics committee banned them from football and removed them from office.
Afterward, Platini vowed to pursue the “culprits” who contributed to the case against him. After seven years of falsehoods and deception, he stated, “I wanted to share my joy for all of my loved ones that justice has now been done.” “During this trial, the truth has been revealed, and I am grateful to the judges of the tribunal for the independence of their decision.
“I have stated that my struggle is a struggle against injustice. I won my initial game. In this instance, some perpetrators did not show up to this trial. Let them rely on me; we shall meet again because I will not give up and will pursue the truth to its conclusion.
Blatter also delivered a brief statement in which he stated, “I’m not talking about Fifa or corruption; I’m talking about me. I have committed no wrongdoing. I have a clear conscience and an unblemished spirit.”
Fifa stated in a statement, “Fifa takes note of the court’s decision in the case opened by the OAG [office of the attorney general] and awaits the complete reasoned judgment before making any additional comments.”
