Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA President Michel Platini have been acquitted for the second time by a Swiss court on charges related to a 2 million Swiss franc payment made in 2011. This verdict upholds their initial 2022 acquittal.
The case centered on allegations of fraud concerning the payment authorized by Blatter to Platini for consultancy work between 1998 and 2002. Both maintained that the payment was based on an oral agreement and denied any wrongdoing.
The court's decision allows Blatter and Platini to recover confiscated funds and clears them of fraud allegations. Prosecutors are considering another appeal.
This ruling marks a significant chapter in a legal saga that began in 2015, impacting both men's careers and leading to substantial changes within FIFA's leadership.