Ex-FIFA Chief Blatter States His Innocence on Court Return Over Fraud Case

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter stood firm in a Swiss courtroom on Monday, declaring his innocence alongside France football legend Michel Platini, two and a half years after their 2022 acquittal on fraud charges. The high-profile case, revived by a Swiss federal prosecutor’s appeal, thrust the pair back into the spotlight at the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in Muttenz, near Basel.

A Long-Running Legal Saga

Blatter and Platini were acquitted in 2022 by a lower Swiss court after a seven-year probe into a 2 million Swiss francs ($2.22 million) payment from FIFA to Platini. The Swiss federal prosecutor has challenged that ruling, seeking to overturn it entirely and pushing for a 20-month suspended sentence for both men, reigniting a saga that has shadowed their legacies. The 2022 indictment alleged the duo deceived FIFA staff in 2010 and 2011, claiming the payment stemmed from advisory work Platini performed as UEFA president—a claim the prosecution branded as fraudulent. That earlier court, however, upheld their account of a "gentlemen’s agreement," finding no solid evidence of deceit.

Blatter’s Defiant Stand

Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years until his 2015 exit amid a broader corruption scandal, told the court he was not guilty. "When you talk about falsehoods, lies and deception, that’s not me. That didn’t exist in my whole life," he said, his voice carrying the weight of decades in football’s upper echelons. "We had principles in my family - we take only money we have earned," he added. "I am innocent." Outside the courtroom, the frail 88-year-old doubled down, dismissing the case as a "witch hunt" and insisting, "We did nothing wrong, nothing." His tenure, once marked by global influence, ended with a 2015 FIFA suspension—initially eight years, later reduced—over ethics violations tied to this payment.

Platini’s Counter and Career Fallout

Michel Platini, a three-time European Footballer of the Year and former France captain, also rejected the fraud accusations. "There’s no corruption, there’s no swindling, there’s nothing at all," he told reporters outside the court. His lawyer, Dominic Nellen, reinforced this, stating, "The court of first instance was right to find that the disputed payment of 2 million francs was lawful." Platini detailed a verbal deal to advise Blatter from 1998 to 2002 at 500,000 Swiss francs annually. FIFA’s financial constraints delayed payment, he explained, until he invoiced the lump sum in 2011. "When FIFA asked me to make an invoice, for me it was simple," Platini told the court. "It was 500,000 multiplied by 4 years, that’s 2 million. I made an invoice and ten days later I was remunerated, and I paid my taxes on it." The case derailed his once-promising path to succeed Blatter, a dream dashed by his own 2015 FIFA suspension alongside Blatter’s.

Latest Developments and Stakes

The prosecutor’s appeal hinges on unraveling the 2022 ruling, arguing the payment lacked legitimacy and misled FIFA’s leadership. Beyond the courtroom, recent filings in late 2024 revealed additional scrutiny over FIFA’s bookkeeping from that era, though no new charges have emerged. Meanwhile, Blatter’s legal team has pointed to procedural flaws in the appeal, suggesting the prosecution’s case leans heavily on reinterpretation rather than fresh evidence. Platini’s camp, too, has highlighted his tax compliance as proof of transparency, bolstering their defense.

Voices from the Defense

The hearing saw both men bolstered by their teams’ resolve. Blatter’s longtime associate, Peter Nobel, told Swiss media last week, "Sepp’s fought bigger battles—this is just another chapter he’ll close." Platini, meanwhile, leaned on his storied career, with teammate-turned-analyst Alain Giresse commenting to L’Équipe, "Michel’s a competitor; he won’t let this define him." Their defiance echoes through the case, painting a picture of two giants unbowed by years of legal volleys.

What’s Next

The stakes remain high as the court weighs this tangled narrative. A verdict, expected on March 25, 2025, could either cement their 2022 clearance or rewrite their fates with a suspended sentence. For Blatter, it’s a chance to reclaim a tarnished legacy; for Platini, a shot at restoring a reputation once poised for football’s pinnacle. As proceedings unfold, the football world watches, knowing this chapter—however it ends—marks another seismic moment in FIFA’s storied, stormy history.