Sepp Blatter, Michele Platini cleared by Swiss court in corruption case

Two and a half years after being initially found guilty of corruption, former world champions of football Sepp Blatter and former world champion of football Michel Platini were both found not guilty of the charges by a Swiss appeals court.

The pair, who were once one of the most influential players in international football, were found not guilty of any wrongdoing on Tuesday in the Muttenz, Switzerland, court.

Following a lower court hearing, Swiss federal prosecutors filed an appeal against the two men’s 2022 acquittal. The charge had been refuted by Bletcher and Platini.

Even the Attorney General of Switzerland must realize that these criminal proceedings have unquestionably failed after two acquittals. In a statement, Platini’s attorney Dominic Nellen stated that Michel Platini should be finally let go of the criminal justice system.

Platini, a former French national team captain and manager, was given a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.26 million) payment that Blatter authorized in 2011.

Platini claimed that the payment for work that was completed between 1998 and 2002 was partially deferred because FIFA lacked the funds to pay him in full right away.

Platini’s chances of succeeding Blatter were shattered by the scandal, which broke out in 2015 when Platini was in charge of UEFA, the country’s ruling body.

Although no compelling proof was ever presented, Michel Platini’s criminal case has had “significant personal and professional consequences” in addition to legal consequences. His election as FIFA president in 2016 was prevented, among other things, by the criminal proceedings, Nellen said.