Switzerland’s Attorney General’s (OAG) office said on Tuesday that former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini have been charged with illegally arranging a payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.19 million).
Swiss prosecutors are investigating Blatter, 85, alleging he arranged payments to Platini from world football’s governing body FIFA in February 2011.
The OAG accused Blatter and Platini of “fraud, in option of misappropriation, with the option of criminal mismanagement, as well as forgery of a document.” Platini, who captained France at the 1984 European Championships, was also accused as an ally.
Both Blatter and Platini were banned from football for six years on pay in 2016 with Blatter’s acknowledgment for work they had done a decade earlier. Both had denied any wrongdoing.
Blatter’s attorney declined to comment on the allegations, while Platini did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The OAG said its investigation revealed that Platini had worked as a consultant for then-Fifa president Blatter between 1998–2002 and that an annual compensation of 300,000 Swiss francs was agreed in a written contract.
OAG said Platini had invoiced the contract and had been paid in full, but the 66-year-old former France international continued to demand payment.
“Eight years after the cessation of his advisory activity, Platini demanded payment in the amount of two million Swiss francs,” the OAG said.
“With Blatter’s participation, FIFA paid Platini the said amount in early 2011. Evidence collected by the OAG confirmed that this payment to Platini was made without legal basis.
“This payment caused damage to FIFA property and illegally enriched Platini. In the OAG’s view, the accused committed the listed offences.”
This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.
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