By Kwame Bediako
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini appeared in a Swiss court on Monday, March 3, 2025 reaffirming their innocence regarding allegations of fraud. This hearing comes two and a half years after both men were acquitted of similar charges in 2022, following a lengthy seven-year investigation into a controversial payment of 2 million Swiss francs (approximately $2.22 million) to Platini for advisory services. In their defence, both Blatter and Platini argue that the payment was based on a legitimate “gentlemen’s agreement.”
The prosecution’s case centres around accusations that Blatter and Platini misled FIFA staff between 2010 and 2011, falsely claiming that the governing body owed Platini a substantial sum for his advisory work. According to the indictment, this deception was carried out through “repeated untruthful claims” from both individuals. This ongoing legal battle has significantly impacted Platini’s career, effectively destroying his aspirations of succeeding Blatter as FIFA president then.
“When you talk about falsehoods, lies, and deception, that’s not me,” Sepp Blatter stated emphatically. He expressed his belief that his family’s principles taught him to earn any money he received. “I am innocent,” he concluded, as he continues to face legal scrutiny from the Swiss federal prosecutor, who is seeking a suspended 20-month sentence for both him and Platini.
Blatter further expressed frustration outside the court, claiming he felt victimized by what he described as a witch hunt. Meanwhile, Platini’s lawyer, Dominic Nellen, reiterated his client’s innocence, stating; “The court of first instance was right to find that the disputed payment of 2 million francs was lawful.”
The court’s decision on the prosecutor’s appeal will be closely watched as it could lead to further ramifications for Blatter and Platini in their battle against these enduring fraud allegations.
