Blatter and Platini Return to Swiss Court in FIFA Fraud Case Retrial

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and French football icon Michel Platini are once again appearing in a Swiss court, facing allegations of fraud. This marks the second time in less than three years that the two football figures are under judicial scrutiny. The case revolves around a payment of 2 million Swiss francs (£1.6 million) made to Platini in 2011, authorized by Blatter during his tenure as FIFA president.

In 2022, both men were acquitted in a trial where they argued that the payment was a delayed remuneration for advisory services Platini provided to FIFA between 1998 and 2002. However, the Swiss federal prosecutor has appealed the verdict, leading to this retrial, which is expected to conclude on 25 March.

During the hearing at the appeals court in Muttenz, near Basel, Blatter, now 88, maintained his innocence. "When you talk about falsehoods, lies, and deception, that's not me. That didn't exist in my whole life," he stated. Platini’s lawyer also defended the actions, emphasizing that the lower court was correct in ruling the payment as lawful.

Platini, a three-time Ballon d’Or winner and former president of UEFA, had a distinguished career both on and off the field. He captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship and won the 1985 European Cup with Juventus. After retiring, he coached the French national team and became UEFA president in 2007.

The origins of the case trace back to 1998 when Blatter enlisted Platini as an adviser. At the time, FIFA reportedly could not afford Platini’s requested annual fee of 1 million Swiss francs, leading to an agreement for partial payment with the balance to be settled later. In 2011, Platini invoiced FIFA, and the payment was authorized by Blatter. However, following investigations initiated in 2015, Swiss prosecutors accused the duo of forgery and fraud.

Both Blatter and Platini were suspended from football in 2015 for ethics violations, with their initial eight-year bans later reduced. Although they were cleared in 2022, the retrial has reignited the legal battle, casting a shadow over their legacies in the world of football.