A Swiss appeals court has ruled that former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini are not guilty of corruption, bringing an end to a long-running legal battle.
The case centered on a payment of 2 million Swiss francs (£1.6m) that Blatter made to Platini in 2011.
The controversy dates back to 2015, when FIFA was rocked by a massive fraud and corruption scandal. Authorities accused the two football executives of fraud, claiming the payment had no legal basis. Both Blatter and Platini insisted it was legitimate compensation for work Platini did as an advisor to Blatter.
In 2022, a Swiss federal court acquitted them, ruling that the payment was part of a verbal agreement. However, prosecutors challenged the decision, leading to a new hearing in Muttenz, near Basel. On Tuesday, the appeals court upheld the original verdict, confirming that no wrongdoing took place.
The FIFA scandal, one of the biggest in sports history, exposed widespread bribery and fraud among officials. It forced Blatter to step down as FIFA president and shattered Platini’s hopes of leading world football’s governing body.
Reacting to the verdict, Blatter expressed relief, calling it a victory for himself, his family, and his supporters. Platini declared that his “honor has returned” and announced plans for legal action against those behind the case. His lawyer criticized prosecutors for pursuing the case for over a decade without producing evidence.
Before the scandal, Platini was a football icon, winning the Ballon d’Or three times and leading France to glory in the 1984 European Championship. Blatter, a Swiss businessman, rose through FIFA’s ranks to become president in 1998.
The ruling brings closure to a case that reshaped global football leadership, but questions remain about FIFA’s governance and the impact of the scandal on the sport.