.png)
Muttenz, Switzerland – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and French football icon Michel Platini have once again been acquitted of fraud charges, following an appeal by Swiss prosecutors. The ruling, handed down by the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court, marks the second time the pair has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Blatter, 89, and Platini, 69, had been accused of misappropriating 2 million Swiss francs ($2.2 million) in 2011. The payment, approved by Blatter, was allegedly for consultancy work Platini carried out between 1998 and 2002. Prosecutors claimed there was no written contract to justify the payment, but both men maintained that it was based on a verbal agreement.
Swiss authorities initially brought charges against the duo in 2015, a scandal that upended their careers and sent shockwaves through the football world. Platini, who had been widely expected to succeed Blatter as FIFA president, was forced out of his role as UEFA chief, while Blatter’s reign at FIFA ended in disgrace amid broader corruption investigations.
Tuesday’s ruling comes after the Swiss attorney general’s office challenged their first acquittal in 2022, seeking 20-month suspended sentences for both men. However, the appeals court upheld the initial verdict, reinforcing that there was no sufficient evidence to convict them.
Platini’s lawyer, Dominic Nellen, welcomed the decision, stating: "After two acquittals, even the Swiss attorney general’s office must recognize that these proceedings have definitively failed. Michel Platini must finally be left in peace."
Despite their legal victories, both Blatter and Platini’s reputations remain marred by the scandal. While they may have cleared their names in court, their legacy in the football world remains deeply intertwined with the corruption crises that plagued FIFA during their leadership.
Prosecutors may still attempt a further appeal to the Swiss Supreme Court, but for now, Blatter and Platini can claim another win in their long-running legal battle.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Muhammad Usman, Unsplash / Jay Pics
