Blatter and Platini Acquitted in Swiss Corruption Case

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and French football legend Michel Platini have been acquitted of corruption charges by a Swiss court, following an appeal by federal prosecutors against their 2022 acquittal. The charges involved a 2 million Swiss franc payment authorized by Blatter to Platini in 2011, purportedly for consultancy work done between 1998 and 2002, which they claimed was deferred due to FIFA's financial constraints. Prosecutors alleged fraud, but the court accepted their explanation of a 'gentlemen's agreement' and found no intent of self-enrichment. This legal battle ended both men's careers in football administration, as they were banned from the sport in 2015 for ethics violations. The acquittal has raised the possibility of Blatter and Platini seeking compensation from FIFA for the reputational damage and career impacts they suffered. The controversy surrounding the payment ended Platini's ambitions to succeed Blatter as FIFA president.