Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini are due to represent him in Swiss court on Wednesday facing Corruption charges that triggered Falling from the top of global football.
Swiss prosecutors Husband accuses, once among the game’s most powerful Numbers, of Arrange payment illegally of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.08 million) in 2011 from FIFA to Platini.
The case meant that Blatter finished 17-year Reign as FIFA President in A disgrace and hopes blew out former French midfielder Platini of his successor.
that it one of 25 investigations by the Swiss office of The Attorney General (OAG) in Corruption in football with About 12 are still pending.
distance six-year investigation, accused OAG Blatter, 86, of “Forgery, in alternative of embezzlement, in The other alternative of criminal Poor management as well of Forgery of document.”
Platini, 66, accused of Fraud, embezzlement and sharing in criminal Mismanagement as a partner and fraud of document.
platinum and platinum, who They were close before but now they are bitter enemiesBoth denied any wrongdoing. They say they have a verbal agreement over Payment related to counseling work By Platini between 1998 and 2002.
Three judges of the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona will hear the case in trial that runs Until June 22. Judgment is awaited on 8. If convicted, Platini and Blatter face up to five years in jail.
“This case goes away back to me event in Blatter said: 2011. It is a matter of administration, the payment of an outstanding salary. for Accordingly and approved by all relevant authorities of FIFA.”
Platini said: “I am close to this session with Serenity and confidence. I am convinced that justice It will be completely and definitively done for me after many years of Blatant accusations and slander. we will prove in The court you acted in with In all honesty, that payment of The remaining salary was owed to me by FIFA and is completely legal.”
The FIFA Ethics Committee has banned the entry of Blatter and Platini football in 2015, at the beginning for Eight years, although this was later reduced.
The deal committee said, made When Blatter was seeking re-election, he lacked transparency and caused conflict of benefit.
When Blatter agreed to pay, he was campaigning for Re-election against Mohammed bin Hammam of Qatar.
Platini as president of Europeans football UEFA, it was seen as an influence with European members who can affect vote.
The Office of the Auditor General said that its investigations revealed that Platini worked as a consultant between 1998 and 2002, annually compensation of 300,000 Swiss francs contractually agreed.
Platinum bill paid in full but the former France international He later demanded that additional salaries be paid of Two million francs.
Platini , who France captain to win in European Championship 1984, forced to withdraw from the European Football Association in 2016 after losing his appeal against ban it. he is also He lost his appeal to the European Court of human rights.
Three-time European footballer of The year was the favorite To replace Blatter after the termination of the Swiss official in waking up of The massive corruption scandal that swept FIFA in 2015.
Instead, platinum former general-secretary At UEFA, Gianni Infantino entered FIFA race And the won The election in 2016.
