Shock Return: Ex-Soccer Titans Blatter, Platini Face Second Trial Over $2M FIFA Deal!

Ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter appeared at a Swiss court on Monday for a fresh trial on charges of fraud, forgery, and misappropriation, just one week before his 89th birthday. Blatter, looking noticeably frail, walked slowly down a flight of stairs toward the courthouse, steadying himself on the handrail.

Renewed Legal Battle

Blatter, along with his co-defendant and former UEFA president Michel Platini, is now facing a second trial nearly three years after their previous acquittal by three federal judges. The charges stem from a controversial FIFA-approved payment of 2 million Swiss francs made to Platini, a move that prosecutors claim damaged FIFA’s assets and unlawfully enriched Platini. Despite their previous acquittal in July 2022 following an 11-day trial at Switzerland’s federal criminal court in Bellinzona, an appeal from the Swiss attorney general’s office and FIFA has led to this new legal proceeding.

Details of the Case

According to federal prosecutors, the payment in question was made during Blatter’s first presidential term, with both Blatter and Platini consistently denying any wrongdoing. They assert that a verbal agreement was in place for non-contracted advisory work, which eventually led to the disputed payment. Prosecutors are now seeking suspended sentences of 20 months. The fresh trial is expected to last four days, with a verdict scheduled for March 25.

Background and Impact on Soccer

The case, reopened over 14 years after the payment and 9½ years after formal investigation, emerged from the massive corruption crisis that engulfed FIFA in May 2015. This crisis led to early-morning arrests in Zurich and the seizure of extensive financial records, fundamentally altering the landscape of international soccer governance.

Since October 2015, both Blatter and Platini have been suspended from their roles by the FIFA ethics committee. Platini’s ban expired in 2019, while Blatter received a subsequent ban in 2021, effectively exiling him from the sport until late 2028, when he will be 92 years old.

Legal Proceedings and Reactions

The new trial opened at a cantonal courthouse functioning as a federal tribunal, with three judges from different cantons presiding over the case. Notably, FIFA was not represented in court during these proceedings. In a dramatic moment, Platini’s lawyer, Dominic Nellen, questioned the absence of FIFA’s representation, asking, “Where is FIFA?” in a bid to dismiss the soccer body’s appeal.

Both defendants have maintained their innocence throughout the legal process, denying any allegations of self-dealing. Their case remains a high-profile reminder of the long-lasting repercussions of the corruption scandal that once rocked international soccer.