On March 25, 2025, Swiss justice definitively acquitted former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini in the case accusing them of fraud and embezzling 2 million Swiss francs from FIFA in 2011. The two men had been accused of illegally transferring the funds to Platini for work supposedly done several years earlier. After years of legal proceedings, this ruling marks the end of one of the biggest scandals in international football.
This decision confirms an earlier acquittal made in 2022, which had already sent shockwaves through the world of sports. Despite the initial ruling, the Swiss prosecutor’s office had appealed, but the court upheld the original judgment, stating that there was insufficient evidence to justify a conviction. Blatter and Platini have always maintained their innocence, arguing that the payment was legitimate and in line with football practices at the time.
This judicial victory for Blatter and Platini marks a turning point in a legal saga that has shaken the foundations of global football organizations. The case had led to widespread speculation and accusations, tarnishing the reputations of the two men, who had dominated international football for decades. Their acquittal brings a close to a turbulent chapter in the history of FIFA and UEFA, while reigniting debates on the management and transparency of major sports organizations.
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