Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have once again been acquitted of corruption charges, securing their second legal victory against Swiss federal prosecutors. The former FIFA president and ex-UEFA chief, once the most powerful figures in global football, were acquitted on Tuesday in a long-running case that has lasted over a decade. The pair had been accused of fraud, forgery, mismanagement, and unlawfully receiving more than $2 million in FIFA funds in 2011.
Blatter, now 89, remained composed as a panel of three cantonal judges, acting as a federal criminal appeals court, delivered the verdict. Seated in front of Platini, he appeared deep in thought—alternating between tapping his fingers on the desk and covering his mouth with his hand. Only after the 55-minute ruling was read did he allow himself a smile, shaking his lawyer’s hand before sharing a long embrace with his daughter, Corinne.
“You saw my daughter in tears because she believed in her father, and I had faith in myself,” Blatter said, expressing relief that the legal battle was finally behind him. “Waiting for such a long time takes a toll on a person, and my family has been deeply affected.” Platini, meanwhile, sat with his arms crossed, listening to a translator relay the decision in French. As he exited the courtroom, he declared, “This persecution by FIFA and certain Swiss federal prosecutors has now come to an end, completely finished. I’m very happy.”
Swiss prosecutors had appealed their initial acquittal from July 2022, seeking a 20-month suspended sentence. They argued that the payment at the center of the case had “damaged FIFA’s assets and unlawfully enriched Platini.” However, Platini’s lawyer, Dominic Nellen, insisted his client had been fully exonerated, stating, “Michel Platini deserves to be left in peace regarding criminal matters. After two acquittals, even the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland must recognize that these criminal proceedings have definitively concluded.”
The charges against Blatter and Platini stem from a 2011 payment of 2 million Swiss francs (approximately 1.8 million euros) that was made when Platini was a consultant for FIFA. At the time, he had been paid an annual salary of 300,000 franc by the federation, and later claimed additional payment based on an alleged oral agreement. The prosecution characterized this request as an attempt to defraud FIFA and described the corresponding invoice as fabricated.
During the trial, both men maintained that the arrangement was legitimate and formed through verbal discussions rather than written contracts. They contended that the claim was a rightful recompense from earlier agreements, dismissing the prosecution’s allegations as unfounded. The court’s ruling reinforced previous judgments from 2022 that established the defense had not met the burden of proof needed to substantiate claims of fraud.
The lengths of the investigations, described by insiders as excessive, raised eyebrows. After nearly a decade of legal struggles, it appears that the case has severely impacted their public lives and careers, delaying both Blatter's resignation as FIFA president in 2015 and Platini's aspirations to succeed him.
As Platini exited the courtroom, he emphasized that he believes the charges were never truly about the alleged monetary dealings, instead suggesting they were a strategic maneuver to bar him from ascending to the leadership of FIFA: "The motive for the current proceedings... was solely to prevent Michel Platini from becoming president of FIFA,” his lawyer commented following the rulings.
Despite the joyful tone following the acquittal, the Swiss attorney general’s office has suggested it may explore further options, stating, “We will determine the next steps.” This announcement leaves an air of uncertainty that continues to linger over both figures.
As the dust settles from the latest trials, sport governing bodies may reflect on the drawn-out saga and its implications. The Blatter-Platini case has highlighted vulnerabilities within international football’s governance and has ignited discussions on accountability and transparency in the sport.
In light of their acquittals, Blatter and Platini are once again freed from legal strife. The thrilling yet burdensome saga of corruption allegations raised acute questions about power dynamics in sports, governance, and whether long-standing pressures could reshape the future of the institutions they once dominated.
