The Swiss prosecutor has requested 20-month suspended sentences for former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA president Michel Platini in an appeal against their 2022 acquittal in a high-profile corruption case.
An Extraordinary Appeal Court in Muttenz, near Basel, is set to deliver its verdict on March 25, bringing a decisive moment in a legal battle that tarnished the careers of Blatter and Platini.
Prosecutor Seeks Justice, but No Jail Time
Prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand, while pushing for the suspended sentences, did not request prison time for the 88-year-old Swiss and 69-year-old Frenchman.
The case dates back to 2015 when Blatter stepped down amid a corruption scandal that rocked FIFA. It centres on a delayed payment of two million Swiss francs (€1.8 million) made to Platini in 2011 for consultancy services.
In June 2022, the Swiss Federal Court acquitted both men of charges, including “disloyal management,” “breach of trust,” and “forgery of securities.” The court ruled that fraud was “not established with a likelihood bordering on certainty,” leading to their exoneration under the legal principle that “doubt must benefit the accused.” However, the Swiss Attorney General’s office opted to appeal the verdict.
The Controversial Payment Agreement
On Tuesday, Hildbrand presented a three-and-a-half-hour argument to disprove Blatter and Platini’s claim that they had an “oral contract” agreeing to the payment for consultancy work between 1998 and 2002.
Notably, in 2011—before FIFA’s presidential election—Platini opted not to challenge Blatter, who went on to secure another term.
According to evidence, Blatter and Platini had signed a formal agreement in August 1999, stipulating that FIFA would pay Platini 300,000 Swiss francs annually for his consultancy role. However, in 2011, Platini suddenly submitted an invoice for two million Swiss francs, which Blatter approved and presented to FIFA as a late salary payment.
The defense claims the duo had agreed on a one-million-franc annual salary but had postponed full payments due to FIFA’s financial situation at the time.
Prosecutor Dismisses Defense Argument
Hildbrand dismissed this reasoning, arguing that even if FIFA had paid Platini one million Swiss francs in 1999, the organization still had “more than 21 million francs in cash” and reserves of 328 million francs by 2002. He asserted that agreeing to such a large sum without documentation, witnesses, or proper accounting was “contrary to commercial practice” and violated FIFA’s financial norms.
Awaiting the Verdict
The appeal trial, which began on Monday, is expected to conclude by Thursday, with closing arguments from the defence. Although FIFA has joined the prosecutor’s appeal as a civil party, it has not sent representatives to the hearings in Muttenz.
The court’s ruling on March 25 will determine whether Blatter and Platini face legal consequences or if their 2022 acquittal stands.
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