Accused of fraud, Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter have an appointment with justice. The trial of the former presidents of UEFA and the International Football Federation (Fifa) opens on Wednesday June 8 before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland. Franceinfo: sport returns to the key dates which led to the fall of the two leaders and the holding of the trial which must last until June 22.
September 25, 2015: opening of an investigation against Blatter
The now ex-president of Fifa, who resigned following allegations of corruption, is suspected of “unfair management” and “breach of trust” in another case. In question, a payment of nearly 2 million euros paid without written record to Michel Platini in 2011 for work as an adviser completed nine years earlier. The Frenchman, who had just announced in July that he was running to succeed Blatter, is heard as an assisted witness.
October 8, 2015: Blatter and Platini suspended for 90 days
The FIFA Ethics Commission sanctions the duo for three months, who appeal the next day. An additional suspension of 45 days is also included in the sentence. In the process, Fifa announces the freezing of Platini’s candidacy for the presidency of the body, the time of its sanction.
December 21, 2015: the duo finally suspended for 8 years
The internal justice of Fifa hits hard: Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter receive an 8-year suspension from all football-related activity. The Swiss announces that he is appealing, when the Frenchman denounces the “procedural cynicism” FIFA, which does not immediately send him the reason for his suspension, which is essential to appeal. His candidacy for the presidency of Fifa is, de facto, null and void.
May 9, 2016: Platini’s sanction reduced to 4 years
A little respite for Platini: the Frenchman sees his initial sentence reduced by half by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He announces his resignation from UEFA for “to chase [s]we fight”. This sanction sounds the death knell of his ambitions.
/2022/06/07/phptLR2UH.jpg)
December 11, 2019: FIFA requests reimbursement of the amount paid to Platini
The international body announces its intention to seize the court of Lausanne to obtain the reimbursement of the sum bordering on the 2 million euros, paid to Michel Platini.
April 5, 2022: Platini files a complaint against Infantino
Six years after his conviction, the former Greens midfielder files a criminal complaint against the current FIFA president for “active influence peddling”. The complaint dates from November 17, 2021, he said in a press release. Platini suspects Gianni Infantino, his former right-hand man, of having plotted to exclude him from the race for the head of Fifa.
Michel Platini says he’s filed a criminal complaint against Gianni Infantino, alleging influencing peddling. pic.twitter.com/S3l3cGT2jG
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) April 5, 2022
June 8, 2022: start of the trial in Switzerland
The two men appear in court. The decision is expected on July 8. Simple fraud is punishable by five years in prison “or a monetary penalty” under Swiss law.