Ahead of the World Cup, which begins on June 11 across three North American countries, Michel Platini has filed lawsuits against FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino. The former UEFA president accuses Infantino, along with other FIFA officials, of corruption and abusing power to prevent his election as FIFA president. Platini claims that FIFA orchestrated maneuvers to block his candidacy over a decade ago and is seeking full financial compensation.
Background of the Allegations
The controversy dates back to late 2015 when it was revealed that FIFA had paid Platini 2 million Swiss francs (approximately $2.51 million) in 2011, authorized by then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Following this, FIFA's ethics committee banned Platini for eight years, effectively ending his presidential bid. Infantino, who served as UEFA's general secretary under Platini, became FIFA president in early 2016. Platini's lawsuits follow his acquittal by a Swiss federal criminal appeals court on March 25, 2022, which cleared him of fraud and embezzlement charges.
Platini asserts that the legal actions against him were orchestrated to prevent his rise to the FIFA presidency. He has called for an investigation into FIFA's conduct and whether Swiss prosecutors improperly interfered during the initial criminal probe. FIFA has previously denied any wrongdoing in handling the 2015 incident.
