According to foreign media reports, the Swiss attorney general revealed that former FIFA president Blatter and former UEFA president Platini will be charged with fraud. According to Swiss media reports, Blatter, 85, and Platini, 65, will appear in court within months at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland.
Switzerland: Former FIFA president Blatter appeared at the hearing and was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines
The Swiss Attorney General's Office alleges that Blatter had arranged for FIFA to pay Platini about 2 million Swiss francs in 2011. Swiss prosecutors revealed that between 1998 and 2002, Platini served as Blatter's adviser. In 1999, Blatter signed a contract with Platini to pay an annual consultancy fee of CHF 300,000. This fee is paid by FIFA.
But by 2011, eight years after the contract had expired, Platini demanded a reward of CHF 2 million. At Blatter's intervention, FIFA paid Platini the money in early 2011. Swiss prosecutors said the reward "had no reasonable legal basis" and "harmed FIFA and allowed Platini to profit illegally." The money is suspected of being used to "buy" Platini in support of Blatter in the FIFA presidency election.
On August 31, 2020, in Switzerland, former UEFA President Platini appeared at the hearing.
In a statement, Blatter said: "I am optimistic about the trial and I hope this matter will come to an end." I need to repeat my point about the money, it was a verbal agreement between me and Platini, agreed to by FIFA's authorities. Platini himself paid Swiss taxes for this. ”
Platini, on the other hand, said in a statement that he would fight these "totally unfair and unfounded allegations" to the end: "They have been constantly trying to involve me in the case, and my good character was recognized." ”
FIFA said there was no written record of the alleged contract. The money was paid to Platini ahead of the 2011 FIFA presidency campaign. At the time, Blatter was running for a fourth term as FIFA president. FIFA said it would pursue the 2 million Swiss francs and invest it in the Football Development Fund.