This could be the outcome of six years of proceedings. Sepp Blatter, former president of the International Football Federation (Fifa), and Michel Platini, his former counterpart of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), will appear from June 8 to 22 before the Criminal Court of the General Court Swiss federal penal system.
The 86-year-old former world football boss will be tried for “suspicions of fraud, breach of trust, disloyal management as well as false titles”, when Michel Platini, 66, will appear for “suspicions of fraud , participation in breach of trust, participation in unfair management, as an accomplice, as well as forgery in titles”.
The two former leaders of world football are accused of having “illegally arranged a payment of 2 million Swiss francs – 1.8 million euros – from Fifa in favor of Michel Platini”, confirmed the Swiss Federal Prosecutor’s Office in November. last, after almost six years of investigation. The French football legend, triple Ballon d’Or, was Sepp Blatter’s adviser during his first term at the helm of Fifa, from 1998 to 2002.
Paid at the time 300,000 Swiss francs per year, the ex-captain of the Blues then “claimed a claim of 2 million Swiss francs”, paid by Fifa with the help of Sepp Blatter. The prosecution considers this payment unfounded, which the two men have always fiercely denied. Simple fraud is punishable by five years in prison “or a monetary penalty” in Switzerland, the authorities of the country have specified.