Former FIFA Boss Sepp Blatter and French Soccer Icon Michel Platini Cleared of Corruption Charges in Swiss Court
A Swiss appeals court has acquitted former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and French football icon Michel Platini of corruption charges. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday at the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in Muttenz, near Basel, upheld the duo's 2022 acquittal, marking the end of a long-running legal battle over a controversial payment made in 2011.
The case centered around a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.26 million) that Blatter authorized for Platini in 2011. Swiss federal prosecutors alleged that the payment, made while Platini was president of UEFA, was fraudulent and without legal basis. However, the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the prosecution's claims.
More from Variety
Imagine Making Documentary About U.S. Men's Soccer Team Historic Run at 1994 World Cup (EXCLUSIVE)
Netflix Scores FIFA Women's World Cup Exclusive U.S. Rights for 2027 and 2031
FIFA Teams With Mythical Games for 'FIFA Rivals' Mobile Game
The ruling reaffirmed that Blatter and Platini had a gentlemen's agreement regarding the payment, which covered consultancy work Platini performed for FIFA between 1998 and 2002. 'It cannot be assumed that the defendants acted with the intention of enriching themselves in the sense of the charged offenses,' the court stated.
The FIFA scandal erupted in 2015, exposing widespread corruption within the organization. While the controversy forced Blatter to resign and derailed Platini's hopes of becoming FIFA president, both men maintained their innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
Speaking after the verdict, Blatter, 89, expressed his relief. 'It is a great relief for me because it's been going on for ten years,' he told the assembled press, as reported by Reuters. 'And now it's over, and I can breathe.'
Platini, 69, echoed similar sentiments. 'The persecution of FIFA and some Swiss federal prosecutors for 10 years is now over. It is now totally over. And for me, today, my honor has returned, and I am very happy.'
The Swiss Attorney General's Office stated that it would review the court's written judgment before deciding whether to appeal to the Swiss Federal Court, the country's highest legal authority. Prosecutors had initially sought a 20-month suspended jail sentence for both men.
Meanwhile, Platini's legal team has signaled its intention to take legal action against those responsible for the criminal proceedings. 'The Office of the Attorney General has not managed to find a single piece of incriminating evidence for over 10 years,' Platini's lawyer, Dominic Nellen, said in a statement. 'These proceedings were not justified and should never have been conducted.'
Blatter and Platini were originally suspended from football in 2015 due to ethics breaches, with their bans later reduced. With the legal case behind them, the former footballing powerhouses are now considering their next steps, though Platini has ruled out a return to the sport, stating that he is now too old for such ambitions.
Despite their acquittal, the scandal has left an indelible mark on both men's legacies. Blatter, who joined FIFA in 1975 and assumed the presidency in 1998, presided over one of the most contentious periods in the organization's history. Platini, a three-time Ballon d'Or winner and captain of France's victorious 1984 European Championship squad, saw his administrative career come to a sudden halt amid the accusations.
Best of Variety
The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Turner recalled for Scotland's summer Pacific Tour
George Turner is recalled by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend for their summer Pacific Tour after a year out while playing in Japan. But there is no place in the 36-man party to face the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa for fellow hooker Dave Cherry and Ali Price, who are both leaving Edinburgh this summer, and experienced lock Jonny Gray. Advertisement Glasgow Warriors number eight Jack Dempsey, Edinburgh flanker Luke Crosbie and centre Mosese Tuipulotu all miss out through injury. Warriors prop Fin Richardson is called up for the first time to a squad minus seven players involved with the British and Irish Lions. Bath fly-half Finn Russell, who was co-captain for the Six Nations, is one of those absentees, so Glasgow flanker Rory Darge is named as skipper on his own this time. Uncapped Soyaux Angouleme XV Charente number eight Alex Masibaka and Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke, who were in this season's Six Nations squad without playing, are included. Advertisement Saracens forward Andy Onyeama-Christie and Glasgow lock Max Williamson return after missing the Six Nations through injury. Glasgow forward Matt Fagerson has been selected as he continues his recovery from injury. Turner has not played for Scotland since leaving Warriors for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan, but the 32-year-old could now add to his 45 caps after signing for Harlequins for next season. The 34-year-old Cherry, who was Scotland's first-choice hooker for the Six Nations, is leaving Edinburgh to join Vannes, while 31-year-old scrum-half Price is joining French rivals Montpellier. Scotland's Pacific Tour squad Backs Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Redpath (Bath), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Harry Paterson (Edinburgh), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Ben White (Toulon). Advertisement Forwards Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh) ,Josh Bayliss (Bath), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge, capt (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Cameron Henderson (Leicester Tigers), Alec Hepburn (Scarlets), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Alexander Masibaka –Soyaux Angouleme XV (Charente), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), Ben Muncaster (Edinburgh), Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens), Fin Richardson (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh), George Turner (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors). Related internet links

Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
The 2026 World Cup is one year away: How plans for Boston's seven games are progressing and what comes next
Or New England, for that matter. 'It's bigger than I've ever seen in my lifetime and perhaps that we'll see in the next lifetime, I'm not sure,' said Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston. 'Nothing would compare to this. This is what we would call an outlier.' Next year's World Cup will be the first with 104 games to be played by 48 teams, an increase of 12 countries over the World Cups since 1998, and twice as many games and teams as there were in 1994, when the US last hosted the World Cup. In that World Cup, the six games at the smaller Foxboro Stadium generated some $50 million in revenues. Advertisement Organizers expect this one to create more than 5,000 jobs and for $60 million in revenues for the state and city. Not included in the $1.1 billion, a figure the organizing committee said is based on independent studies, is free media exposure estimated to be worth 'hundreds of millions of dollars,' said Mike Loynd, president and CEO of FIFA World Cup Boston 2026. Also left out of the billion-dollar equation is 'future legacy,' which Loynd said refers to economic growth that will accrue from 'the region being recognized as a great place to do business and visit. Advertisement 'I don't think we've ever seen this sort of density of events this close together with this amount of attention paid internationally. We're seeing hundreds of thousands of viewers per event, at a minimum, on average for the games, and the quarterfinal [on July 9] will be massive. The eyes of the world will be on us.' Before the hordes and cameras arrive, Boston organizers will continue to chip away at a formidable to-do list that's been growing since FIFA included Boston on its list of 16 North American host cities almost three years ago. A few items, such as festooning South Station with 'Boston 26″ paraphernalia and unveiling a countdown clock at Faneuil Hall Wednesday morning, are being activated at one year away. The biggest pieces of the puzzle, such as security, transportation, funding, and FanFest specifics, are still being hammered out. Other items, such as many of the stadium modifications, have to wait for the Patriots' upcoming season to end. There's a lot of legwork left before visitors start swiping and tapping their credit cards. Loynd and Sheridan sat down with the Globe recently to provide a progress report. Pillow talk There are enough beds for everyone. 'We'll be fine,' said Sheridan, citing a high density of hotel properties across Boston and southern New England. FIFA is holding about 3,900 rooms a night for approximately 40 days. Reservations should roughly happen in three waves, beginning this week when hotels open their systems 12 months out, after the draw in December when fans across the globe learn where their team will be playing, and in the weeks and days as the tournament approaches. Advertisement Immigration worries Because the Trump administration's aggressive stance and actions regarding illegal and legal immigrants is well-documented and ongoing, an influx of foreigners in every one of the 11 US host cities will be fraught. However, Boston organizers voiced confidence that the close relationship between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Trump, as well as the president's desire to pull off a tournament without controversy, will decrease the possibility of problems. 'The administration is hyperfocused on making this event successful; they know they're in the spotlight,' said Sheridan. 'I think the administration is going to be uber-focused on making sure that the inbound process is as smooth as possible.' Safe and sound Each host city has been in talks with the Department of Homeland Security and FIFA over the last two years to coordinate over common concerns and to anticipate trouble spots at the stadium, traffic routes, and fan-gathering sites. Locally, Loynd's organizing committee and the state chair a steering committee on security that has 18 subgroups that include representation from about 30 public agencies, including the Boston and state police, chiefs of staff from the governor and Boston mayor's office, the state's emergency operations center, MBTA, and Amtrak security. The federal government has dedicated $625 million to help with security in the US cities. No texting while idling Nobody should be under the impression that getting in and out of Boston Stadium will somehow be quicker and easier than the usual congestion around Gillette Stadium for concerts and Patriots and Revolution games. Because fewer spectators will be traveling to the Boston area with a car than for normal stadium events, there will be an even heavier reliance on public transportation. Advertisement The frequency of commuter rail trips will increase and bus routes will be added to supplement train service. Boston organizers and MBTA officials are working together on transportation issues. Organizers are still finalizing plans on whether satellite parking lots for buses will be used, plus working on other solutions to mitigate congestion. Stadium makeover In order to provide enough space for a properly sized FIFA pitch, crews will have to make four corner cuts in the curved corners of the lower seating bowl. Those will happen soon, with temporary seating provided during the Patriots season so capacity will not shrink. An exact capacity figure for the soccer games is not available, but with the corner cuts and an extra media tribune being built over seating in the south end of the stadium, capacity will be less than the 65,878 for Patriots games. Whenever the Patriots' season ends, crews will finish installing the subair system that, along with grow lights, will be needed for the new grass field. In addition to removing Gillette Stadium signage, any current corporate signage will be covered so that only FIFA's corporate sponsors' logos can be seen by fans and TV viewers. A Gillette Stadium makeover for World Cup games next year will be completed once the Patriots' upcoming season ends. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Who's got tickets FIFA maintains tight control on the vast majority of tickets for each game and has yet to provide information on sales and pricing. The Boston committee will receive a modest allotment that will be reserved mainly for its sponsors and donors. There will not be more information on tickets before the end of FIFA's Club World Cup taking place in the US now through mid-July. Keep an eye out for Advertisement More than a game There will be a central FanFest site located in Boston, but the big reveal on where and what it will entail is not ready. There also will be public viewing sites across New England. Once the draw is completed, the committee will try, if possible, to focus celebratory activities in any regional area heavily populated by native fans of incoming national teams. On Wednesday morning, a countdown clock for the start of the World Cup will start ticking outside Faneuil Hall. In the afternoon, Governor Maura Healey and assorted soccer luminaries will take part in a soccer demonstration and panel discussion at Boston University's Nickerson Field. There will be costs Loynd said the committee is working on a budget with an unknown final figure but one that is expected to fall between $75 million and $100 million. 'We're never going to build anything more than what we can financially afford,' said Loynd. Besides security and transportation costs, there are costs associated with FanFest and other celebratory sites, none of which have been finalized. Ronald O'Hanley, chair and CEO of State Street Bank, is chairing an honorary board with members, many of whom will be donors, being announced in the coming weeks. Meet Boston provided $5 million for Boston 26, said Sheridan. What's left behind It's too early for details, but Boston 26 will be building multiple soccer fields in underserved communities, said Loynd. Boston 26 also intends to develop programming for a 'collective group of social impact programs that exist across New England to work together,' he said. Advertisement Boston's World Cup games Boston will host seven games in the 2026 World Cup. The matchups and details will come after the draw is announced in December. Saturday, June 13 : Group C game Tuesday, June 16 : Group I game Friday, June 19 : Group C game Tuesday, June 23 : Group L game Friday, June 26 : Group I game Monday, June 29 : Group E winner vs. Group A/B/C/D/F third-place game Thursday, July 9 : Quarterfinal game Michael Silverman can be reached at


Business of Fashion
an hour ago
- Business of Fashion
French Senate Backs Law to Curb Ultra Fast-Fashion
France's Senate approved a revised version of a law regulating fast fashion on Tuesday, which if implemented would ban advertising by fast-growing Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu. Senators in the upper house of parliament voted almost unanimously for a modified version of a bill passed by France's lower house last year, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry. Critics say the low-priced garments produced by fast-fashion chains drive excessive consumption and waste, exacerbating the textile sector's impact on the environment. An amended version of the bill distinguishes between 'ultra' fast fashion and 'classic' fast fashion, however, imposing less onerous restrictions on European fast-fashion players like Zara and Kiabi, but drawing criticism from environmental groups. The 'clarifications (made by the Senate) make it possible to target players who ignore environmental, social, and economic realities, notably Shein and Temu, without penalising the European ready-to-wear sector,' said Jean-Francois Longeot, chair of the Senate's Committee on Regional Planning and Sustainable Development. 'Shein is not a fast fashion company,' said the Chinese firm in a statement in response to the vote, adding that its model was 'part of the solution, not the problem'. Faced with competition from very low-priced products, several French brands are experiencing significant difficulties, such as Jennyfer, which went into liquidation at the end of April, and NafNaf, which has been in receivership since May. The law would also introduce penalties for both fast and ultra fast-fashion companies if they don't meet certain environmental criteria, reaching at least 10 euros per item of clothing by 2030, or up to 50 percent of the product's price excluding tax. The government needs to notify the European Commission of the vote, and will then need to set up a joint committee to reach a compromise between the Senate and lower house versions of the law before it is implemented. By Florence Loeve; Editors: Dominique Patton and Mark Potter Learn more: Tariffs Won't Kill Fast Fashion, But They Might Kill Sustainable Fashion Some have hailed America's escalating trade war as a means to finally curb overconsumption of cheap goods. Instead, the economic hardship its likely to bring on will eviscerate efforts to transform the industry for the better, writes Kenneth P. Pucker.