Latest news with #ex-Uefa
Observer
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Blatter and Platini cleared in Fifa graft case
MUTTENZ, Switzerland: Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and ex-Uefa chief Michel Platini on Tuesday were acquitted on appeal by a Swiss court in a long-running corruption case that shattered their careers as the most powerful figures in world football. Blatter, 89, and Platini, 69, listened in silence as the Extraordinary Court of Appeal clerk in the town of Muttenz, near Basel, read out a decision identical to the one handed down in 2022, which had initially cleared them. Prosectors had requested suspended sentences of 20 months for the pair, but charges of fraud, for which they risked five years' imprisonment, as well as disloyal management, breach of trust and forgery of documents were all dismissed. After almost 10 years of legal proceedings, a final appeal is still possible before the Swiss Supreme Court, but only on limited legal grounds. The prosecutors' office said in a statement it "will decide about how to further proceed". "The persecution by Fifa and some Swiss federal prosecutors for 10 years is now over," Platini told reporters. "Today my honour is restored, and I'm very happy." Platini, a former France captain and manager, said he felt "from the start" that the purpose of the affair was to prevent him "from being president of Fifa". "I know that for my enemies, it was time that was important... They kept me out for 10 years," continued Platini, whose downfall cleared the way for the election in early 2016 of Gianni Infantino as Fifa boss. Blatter and Platini returned to court earlier this month on charges stemming from a delayed payment of two million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros) Fifa made to Platini in 2011 for consultancy services. "After two acquittals, the federal prosecutor's office must also admit that this criminal procedure has definitively failed. Michel Platini must finally be left alone in criminal matters," said Dominic Nellen, Platini's lawyer. GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT The case began in 2015 when Blatter quit as head of Fifa in a corruption crisis. Blatter and Platini were initially acquitted by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in June 2022, but the Swiss Attorney General's office immediately appealed that verdict. The defence and prosecution agreed that Platini did advise Blatter between 1998 and 2002, during the Swiss administrator's first term at the head of Fifa, and that in 1999 the two men signed a contract agreeing an annual remuneration of 300,000 Swiss francs, to be "paid in full by Fifa". Blatter and Platini said that at the start they agreed orally, and without witnesses, on an annual salary of one million Swiss francs, but Fifa's financial state did not allow for immediate payment. Blatter called it a "gentlemen's agreement". Prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand said the argument was implausible. Even if Fifa had transferred one million Swiss francs to Platini in 1999, it would still have had "more than 21 million francs in cash", and its reserves had reached 328 million in 2002. To agree to such a sum without a written record, without witnesses and without ever making provision for it in the accounts was, he said, "contrary to commercial practice" as well as to Fifa's norms. In January 2011, "more than eight years after the end of his activity as an adviser", Platini "claimed a debt of two million Swiss francs", which Fifa paid. Prosecutors argued that this was an "unfounded" payment, obtained by "cleverly misleading" Fifa's internal controls through false statements made by the two executives. At the time, Blatter was running for re-election as Fifa president and Platini had become head of European football. Platini backed Blatter in his successful bid for a fourth term in charge of Fifa. Both men were eventually banned from football by Fifa's ethics committee. — AFP
The National
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The National
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini cleared in long-running football corruption case
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and ex-Uefa chief Michel Platini were on Tuesday acquitted by a Swiss court in a long-running corruption case that shattered their careers as two of the most powerful figures in world football. Blatter, 89, and Platini, 69, listened in silence as the Extraordinary Court of Appeal clerk in Muttenz read out a decision identical to the one handed down in 2022, which had initially cleared them. Prosectors had requested suspended sentences of 20 months for the pair, but charges of fraud, for which they risked five years' imprisonment, as well as disloyal management, breach of trust and forgery of documents were all dismissed. After almost 10 years of legal proceedings, a final appeal is still possible before the Swiss Federal Court, but only on limited legal grounds. "The relentless pursuit from Fifa and some Swiss federal prosecutors is now over," Platini told reporters. "Today my honour is restored, and I'm very happy." Platini, a former France captain and manager, said he felt "from the start" that the purpose of the affair was to prevent him "from being president of Fifa". "I know that for my enemies, it was time that was important... They kept me out for 10 years," continued Platini, whose downfall cleared the way for the election of Gianni Infantino in early 2016 as Fifa president. Blatter and Platini returned to court earlier this month on charges stemming from a delayed payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.06 million) Fifa made to Platini in 2011 for consultancy services. "After two acquittals, the federal prosecutor's office must also admit that this criminal procedure has definitively failed. Michel Platini must finally be left alone in criminal matters," said Dominic Nellen, Platini's lawyer. The case began in 2015 when Blatter quit as head of Fifa in a corruption crisis. Blatter and Platini were initially acquitted by the Swiss Federal Court in June 2022, but the Swiss Attorney General's office immediately appealed that verdict. The defence and prosecution agreed that Platini did advise Blatter between 1998 and 2002, during the Swiss administrator's first term at the head of FIFA, and that in 1999 the two men signed a contract agreeing an annual remuneration of 300,000 Swiss francs, to be "paid in full by Fifa". Blatter and Platini said that at the start they agreed orally, and without witnesses, on an annual salary of one million Swiss francs, but Fifa's financial state did not allow for immediate payment. Blatter called it a "gentlemen's agreement". Prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand said the argument was implausible. Even if Fifa had transferred one million Swiss francs to Platini in 1999, it would still have had "more than 21 million francs in cash", and its reserves had reached 328 million in 2002. To agree such a sum without a written record, without witnesses and without ever making provision for it in the accounts was, he said, "contrary to commercial practice" as well as to Fifa's norms. In January 2011, "more than eight years after the end of his activity as advisor", Platini "claimed a debt of two million Swiss francs", which Fifa paid. Prosecutors argued that this was an "unfounded" payment, obtained by "cleverly misleading" FIFA's internal controls through false statements made by the two executives. At the time, Blatter was running for re-election as Fifa president and Platini had become head of European football. Platini backed Blatter in his successful bid for a fourth term in charge of Fifa.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Frail-looking Sepp Blatter arrives for fraud hearing alongside Michel Platini
A frail-looking Sepp Blatter, the former Fifa president, and ex-Uefa boss Michel Platini have arrived at court to stand trial on fraud charges following an appeal by prosecutors. Blatter, who turns 89 next Monday, and Platini, 69, were both seen smiling ahead of a fresh hearing at the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in Muttenz, near Basel, into a two million Swiss francs (£1.76 million) payment that led to them being banned from world football in the months after the game's biggest corruption scandal. That scandal forced Blatter to quit as Fifa president, while Platini's plan to succeed him was wrecked by his own suspension for taking the cash. Each was cleared of criminal charges two-and-a-half years ago over what the Fifa's ethics committee ruled in December 2015 had been a 'disloyal payment' made by Blatter to his former protege shortly before he was re-elected as the most powerful man in the game in 2011. Both have always denied any wrongdoing, including over what they say was a 'gentleman's agreement' to defer money owed to Platini for work carried out on Blatter's campaign for election as Fifa president in 1998. At their 2022 trial, that account was accepted as credible by a judge, who said serious doubts existed about the prosecution's allegation that the payment was fraudulent. The Swiss federal prosecutor appealed the verdict, saying in a statement: 'The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has filed an appeal against the first-instance judgment and submitted a statement of appeal in October 2022 requesting that the judgment be set aside in full.' The indictment against Blatter and Platini states: 'They falsely claimed that Fifa owed Platini, or that Platini was entitled to, the sum of two million Swiss francs for advisory work. This deception was achieved through repeated untruthful claims made by both accused parties.' Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 20 months, suspended for two years, against Blatter and Platini, the former France captain and manager. Blatter, who was Fifa president for 17 years until 2015, said before the hearing that he felt he was the subject of a witch hunt. 'The Federal Criminal Court in 2022 said the contract between Platini and me was correct, and I expect the new court will confirm this first decision,' Blatter, 88, said last week, adding the upcoming appeal was 'absolute nonsense'. 'I am completely confident I will be cleared, I am an honest man.' The criminal action against Blatter has taken a major toll on his health and, in an interview with Telegraph Sport last year, he accused prosecutors of banking on him succumbing to nature before his retrial so he avoided winning again in court. He also said: 'If I would always go through all my life back [over] what was wrong, what would have been better, then I would start to put myself in situations where I would say, (lowering his voice) 'Oh, you're a bad boy. You are a bad boy already at school'.' He added: 'Let's say I have no regrets [about] what I have done and especially no regrets [about] what I have not done.' Platini's lawyer Dominic Nellen said: 'The court of first instance was right to find that the disputed payment of 2 million francs was lawful. 'My client denies any criminal behaviour and is relaxed about the appeal hearing. He will also be acquitted there.' A verdict is expected on March 25. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Frail-looking Sepp Blatter arrives for fresh fraud appeal hearing alongside Michel Platini
A frail-looking Sepp Blatter, the former Fifa president, and ex-Uefa boss Michel Platini have arrived at court to stand trial on fraud charges following an appeal by prosecutors. Blatter, who turns 89 next Monday, and Platini 69 were both seen smiling ahead of a fresh hearing at the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in Muttenz, near Basel, into a 2 million Swiss francs (£1.76 million) payment that saw them banned from world football in the months after the game's biggest corruption scandal. That scandal forced Blatter to quit as Fifa president, while Platini's plan to succeed him was wrecked by his own suspension for taking the cash. Each was cleared of criminal charges two-and-a-half years ago over what Fifa's ethics committee ruled in December 2015 had been a 'disloyal payment' made by Blatter to his former protege shortly before he was re-elected as the most powerful man in the game in 2011. Both have always denied any wrongdoing, including over what they say was a 'gentleman's agreement' to defer money owed to Platini for work carried out on Blatter's campaign for election as Fifa president back in 1998. At their 2022 trial, that account was accepted as credible by a judge, who said serious doubts existed about the prosecution's allegation that the payment was fraudulent. The Swiss federal prosecutor appealed the verdict, saying in a statement: 'The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has filed an appeal against the first-instance judgment and submitted a statement of appeal in October 2022 requesting that the judgment be set aside in full.' The indictment against Blatter and Platini states: 'They falsely claimed that Fifa owed Platini, or that Platini was entitled to, the sum of 2 million Swiss francs for advisory work. This deception was achieved through repeated untruthful claims made by both accused parties.' Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 20 months, suspended for two years, against Blatter and Platini, the former France captain and manager. Blatter, who was Fifa president for 17 years until 2015, said before the hearing that he felt he was the subject of a witch hunt. 'The Federal Criminal Court in 2022 said the contract between Platini and me was correct, and I expect the new court will confirm this first decision,' Blatter, 88, said last week, adding the upcoming appeal was 'absolute nonsense'. 'I am completely confident I will be cleared, I am an honest man.' The criminal action against Blatter has taken a major toll on his health and, in an interview with Telegraph Sport last year, he accused prosecutors of banking on him succumbing to nature before his retrial so he avoided winning again in court. He also said: 'If I would always go through all my life back [over] what was wrong, what would have been better, then I would start to put myself in situations where I would say, (lowering his voice) 'Oh, you're a bad boy. You are a bad boy already at school'.' He added: 'Let's say I have no regrets [about] what I have done and especially no regrets [about] what I have not done.' Platini's lawyer Dominic Nellen said: 'The court of first instance was right to find that the disputed payment of 2 million francs was lawful. 'My client denies any criminal behaviour and is relaxed about the appeal hearing. He will also be acquitted there.' A verdict is expected on March 25.
