Blatter, Platini Face Fraud Trial Over €2.1M FIFA Payment

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini returned to a Swiss court for a new trial concerning fraud, forgery, and misappropriation charges related to a 2 million Swiss franc payment made to Platini in 2011. This trial follows their acquittal in July 2022, which came after a seven-year investigation into the payment that prosecutors claimed unlawfully enriched Platini and damaged FIFA's assets. The Swiss federal prosecutor has appealed the earlier verdict, seeking a 20-month suspended sentence for both men. Blatter, approaching his 89th birthday, and Platini, 69, have consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the payment was based on a verbal agreement for advisory work. The court hearing is expected to conclude by March 25, with the judges set to announce their verdict on that date. The case continues to be a significant chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of governance in international football.