Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini have been cleared of fraud charges.
The two men appeared in a Swiss court two and a half years after a lower court in Switzerland ruled there was no wrongdoing in corruption and fraud cases related to them, following a seven-year investigation.
The case against the two presidents of the world’s largest football organizations, FIFA and UEFA, involved a payment of 2.22 million US dollars that FIFA President Sepp Blatter made to Platini.
Although the lower court ruled that there was nothing wrong with the case and that the transaction took place within the rules with all documentation available, the case was appealed to a higher court.
However, the appeal hearings began earlier this month. And when the verdict was delivered yesterday, it was decided that Blatter and Platini were not guilty in this matter.
Speaking to reporters after the case concluded, Blatter said he was satisfied that the case had ended after many days and that this was a great victory.
“Today, the court has given justice to me, my family, and close friends. This is a great satisfaction,” said 89-year-old Blatter.
The case became significant when Sepp Blatter resigned from the position of FIFA President after 17 years in 2015, and it was believed that Platini would compete for the position. Blatter resigned from FIFA presidency then due to additional corruption allegations against him. Among them, the loudest was related to the decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar.
At that time, in connection with this case, FIFA’s Ethics Committee suspended Blatter and Platini for a year from involvement in any football-related activities. However, the punishment was later reduced.
The Swiss prosecutor had requested a 20-month sentence with a 2-year suspension for Blatter and Platini in this case.
