Blatter and Platini Resurface in Swiss Court Over Fraud Allegations

The new court proceedings, following their acquittal in 2022, focus on a controversial payment of 2 million Swiss francs, as both men maintain their innocence amidst lingering allegations of fraud.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and football legend Michel Platini reconvene in a Swiss courtroom, confronting renewed fraud allegations that have dogged them for nearly a decade. This trial marks their second legal battle in a span of fewer than three years, following their acquittal in 2022 concerning a contested 2 million Swiss franc payment made to Platini, which Blatter authorized in 2011.

Both defendants staunchly uphold their innocence, asserting that the payment was merely a delayed compensation for Platini's advisory contributions to FIFA. The former UEFA president, who has a storied career including multiple Ballon d'Or titles, supported Blatter’s claim that the money was owed as part of a professional agreement.

The Swiss federal prosecutor's appeal against their previous acquittal has led to this new trial, which commenced on Monday in Muttenz, close to Basel. Blatter, now 88, emphasized to the court that falsehoods have never been part of his life, while Platini's attorney insisted that the previous court's ruling regarding the legality of the 2 million franc payment stood on solid grounds.

The case's roots trace back to accusations from 2015, where investigators alleged that Blatter and Platini misled FIFA about the financial transactions. Blatter testified that while asking Platini to be his advisor in 1998, FIFA could not accommodate the requested fee. He noted that they had agreed on a lower payment, which would be settled later. Platini, who stopped working with FIFA in 2002, initially chose not to pursue the payment, citing financial difficulties at FIFA.

However, in January 2011, Platini reached out for the owed balance, which was subsequently authorized by Blatter, leading to repercussions that swept both men out of the FIFA leadership following a broader investigation into corruption. The two had previously been suspended from football for ethics breaches, although their original eight-year bans were eventually reduced after their acquittal in 2022.

As the current trial unfolds, the verdict is anticipated on March 25, with both figures hoping to finally put the allegations behind them and regain their reputations in the football world.