Judgment in the trial against Blatter and Platini
FIFA process
Sepp Blatter can breathe a sigh of relief – acquittals for him and Michel Platini also in the second attempt
The Court of Appeal opened its judgment in the FIFA fraud process against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini on Tuesday. It confirms the first instance acquittals. The court made interventions at the costs – FIFA should also pay something.
On the way to the second acquittal: Sepp Blatter on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, when arriving at the court in Muttenz.
The Federal Prosecutor’s office, represented by prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand, was charged with the two officials to have cheated FIFA by two million francs almost 15 years ago. That was a payment that FIFA paid on Platini under Blatter in 2011. As subsequent compensation for consulting services from 1998 to 2001, the accused said. As in the first instance, the allegations of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office were on fraud, at most embezzlement or unfaithful business and forgery of documents.
Infantino as a big profiteer
The procedure was triggered in autumn 2015 by a criminal complaint from FIFA. This was particularly fatal for Michel Platini because he was immediately closed by the World Football Association. In early 2016, when the successor was elected by Blatter, he could not compete, even though he was considered the top favorite.
The great profiteer of the procedure was a Italo-Swiss-chip washed with all the water: thanks to Platinis lock, the train was free for Gianni Infantino.
Until then, Infantino was a Platini employee: Namely general secretary at the European Football Association UEFA – the Platini as President Board. « I was killed, » says Platini, alluding to these events.
The judgment of Muttenz felled an extraordinary appeal chamber of the Federal Criminal Court under the chairmanship of the Basel bidder Roland Hofmann. The chamber, which was composed by three presidents of three presidents of cantonal courts, had to step in because the ordinary appeal chamber was sent to the stand by the Federal Supreme Court. Reason: The President of the Commerce of Appeal, Olivier Thormann, was involved in the highly controversial procedure: At that time, he had opened it himself under the federal prosecutor of the federal government.
Full acquittal in Bellinzona
In the first instance, Blatter and Platini were in June 2022 by the Federal Criminal Court fully acquitted in Bellinzona: The controversial payment was right. Although there was only an oral contract. The Federal Prosecutor’s office fully appealed, which FIFA hung up with a fully extensive follow -up profession.
FIFA did not appear to be a call for appeal in the mutation – without giving reasons. The FIFA under Infantino also shows a bad style when dealing with the media. Inquiries to the matter remained unanswered.
In the event of the follow -up profession in the fraud process, the criminal court in Muttenz already moved the consequences on the first day of the trial at the beginning of March: Infantinos FIFA also formally excluded from the procedure. Due to its behavior, FIFA in fact has withdrawn its follow -up profession.
