Blatter and Platini in the fraud process: innocent or guilty?

Blatter and Platini in the fraud process: innocent or guilty?

Muttenz, Schweiz - Joseph Blatter, the former President of FIFA, and Michel Platini, the former UEFA president, are faced with a fraud process. The process initiated by the Swiss public prosecutors concerns a payment of two million francs from the FIFA fund to Platini, which was approved in 2011. Both men assert their innocence and claim that the payment was intended as a fee for advisory activities that were already agreed in the late 1990s. Dewezet reports that an oral "gentlemen’s AGREEME" is the basis for this payment is.

The background of the process goes back to 2015 when FIFA submitted an advertisement against Blatter and Platini. At that time, Blatter, who was put under pressure as a FIFA president shortly after his re-election, was forced to withdraw. Both Blatter and Platini were banned by a FIFA ethics committee for several years. In 2022 they were acquitted in the first instance because the court decided that in doubt the accused must be decided. Nevertheless, the public prosecutor's office appealed and the judgment in the appeal procedure is expected on March 25, 2024.

allegations and legal disputes

The allegations against Blatter and Platini refer to fraud and embezzlement. The investigative authorities accuse Blatter of having carried out the payment of around two million euros without a demonstrable reason. Blatter argues that the billing was carried out according to the principles of FIFA and that he would only accept a confirming acquittal. Platini denies the allegations "fully" about his lawyer.

criticism of corruption in international sport

The ongoing legal disputes about Blatter and Platini are part of a major problem of corruption in international sports associations, which is widespread in Switzerland. Many associations, including FIFA, have been confronted with scandals in the past. Swissinfo reported that the Federal Office of Sport (BASPO) already requested increased combating of corruption in sports associations. A possible way to improve could be a tightening of Swiss corruption criminal law to create more transparent governance structures that apply to all international associations.

Corruption in sports associations is a stubborn problem that continues to exist after reforms. Despite new governance rules, many of the old structures that favor corruption remain. It remains to be seen whether the impending court decisions on Blatter and Platini will give new impulses for reforms in international sport.