Both said it was an “additional payment for consulting work”. / Blatter and Platini acquitted
The trial of the two former football officials Joseph Blatter and Michel Platini ended with acquittals. It was about a dubious payment of millions to Platini.
The Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona in the Swiss canton of Ticino did not consider it proven that Blatter had illegally helped Platini to make a payment of two million Swiss francs (today around 2.02 million euros) from the coffers of the world football association FIFA Blatter was President from 1998 to 2016.
The Swiss federal prosecutor saw no legal basis for the million-euro payment. She had demanded 20-month suspended sentences and the repayment of the millions to FIFA for both of them.
FIFA acted as a joint plaintiff in the proceedings and demanded repayment of the amount and the social benefits paid on it.
“Additional payment for consulting activities”
The FIFA Ethics Committee had suspended the two officials for several years. A ban means they cannot attend football activities. According to the two defendants, the transfer of millions in 2011 was an additional payment for consulting work. Platini did this for FIFA from 1998 to 2002.
At the turn of the millennium, FIFA did not have enough money to pay Platini in full. It was a “gentleman’s agreement,” as Blatter said.
