Blatter and Platini are on trial for corruption

Blatter and Platini are on trial for corruption

Muttenz, Switzerland-the former FIFA President Sepp Blatter Football legend Michel Platini will have to answer to the court in Switzerland on Monday for fraud- Years after their acquittal . Both men, once leading personalities in world football, were acquitted by a subordinate Swiss court in 2022 after a seven-year examination of a payment of two million Swiss francs ($ 2.22 million) was concluded to Platini.

appeal of the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office

The Swiss Federal Prosecutor's office has appealed against this judgment, which leads to a new hearing in the extraordinary complaint chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in Muttenz, near Basel. "In October 2022, the Office of the General Prosecutor of Switzerland (OAG) filed an appeal against the judgment of the first instance and submitted an appeal application in which the opinion should be fully lifted," said the prosecutor. Further details were not published.

charges against Blatter and Platini

The indictment of 2022 blatter and Platini, FIFA employee in 2010 and 2011, to be deceived by an obligation to the French footballer condition, which at that time was President of the European Football Association UEFA. "You wrongly claimed that FIFA Platini, or that Platini is entitled to the sum of 2 million Swiss francs for consulting services. This deception was achieved by repeated untrue claims by both accused parties," said the indictment.

reactions and expectations in court

The case was rejected by the case. Blatter and Platini were from FIFA in 2015 for ethical violations initially suspended were shortened. In 2022, they were acquitted in the procedure after a judge found that their presentation of a "gentlemen agent" was credible for the payment. The judge also expressed serious doubts about the public prosecutor's allegations.

plausible expectations for the judgment

The Swiss Federal Prosecutor has requested a penalty of 20 months, exposed to Blatter and Platini, the former captain and coach of the French football team. Blatter, who was a FIFA president for 17 years, expressed before the hearing that he was a witch hunt exposed. "The Federal Criminal Court found in 2022 that the contract between Platini and me was correct, and I expect the new court to confirm this first decision," Blatter, 88 years old, told Reuters last week. He added that the impending calling was "absolute nonsense" and said: "I am completely confident that I am acquitted, I am an honest man."

Platini and his legal team are optimistic

Platini, three -time footballer of the year in Europe, also expressed confidence in an acquittal, as his lawyer announced. "The first instance court was right when it found that the controversial payment of CHF 2 million was lawful," said Platini’s lawyer Dominic Nellen. "My client denies any criminal behavior and is relaxed regarding the appeal hearing. He will also be acquitted there." A judgment is expected for March 25th.