Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter Acquitted in Appeal
The former football executives' convictions overturned by a Swiss court.
Michel Platini, the former president of UEFA, and Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA, have been acquitted of all charges in an appeal decision made by the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland.
This ruling comes after both were initially convicted in July 2022 for a breach of trust related to unauthorized payments made by FIFA.
The court determined that the initial ruling undermined the defendants' right to a fair trial.
As a result, the court has announced that both Platini and Blatter, who were involved in leading international football organizations for years, will not face any penalties.
The original charges stemmed from a payment of 2 million Swiss francs made to Platini in 2011, a transaction that the prosecution alleged was not sufficiently justified.
The legal battles surrounding both figures have drawn significant media attention, reflecting broader issues of governance and accountability in football administration.
This acquittal marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing saga over financial dealings in international football, which have been under scrutiny in various jurisdictions worldwide.
This ruling comes after both were initially convicted in July 2022 for a breach of trust related to unauthorized payments made by FIFA.
The court determined that the initial ruling undermined the defendants' right to a fair trial.
As a result, the court has announced that both Platini and Blatter, who were involved in leading international football organizations for years, will not face any penalties.
The original charges stemmed from a payment of 2 million Swiss francs made to Platini in 2011, a transaction that the prosecution alleged was not sufficiently justified.
The legal battles surrounding both figures have drawn significant media attention, reflecting broader issues of governance and accountability in football administration.
This acquittal marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing saga over financial dealings in international football, which have been under scrutiny in various jurisdictions worldwide.
