Landmark Victory: Sepp Blatter And Michel Platini Acquitted In Fifa Corruption Case

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex- UEFA chief Michel Platini on Tuesday were acquitted on appeal by a Swiss court in a long-running corruption case that shattered their careers as two of the most powerful figures in world football.

Blatter, 89, and Platini, 69, listened in silence as the Extraordinary Court of Appeal clerk in Muttenz read out a decision identical to the one handed down in 2022 , which had initially cleared them.

'The relentless pursuit from FIFA and some Swiss federal prosecutors is now over,' Platini told reporters. 'Today my honour is restored, and I'm very happy.'

Platini, a former France captain and manager, said he felt 'from the start' that the purpose of the affair was to prevent him 'from being president of FIFA'.

'I know that for my enemies, it was time that was important... They kept me out for 10 years,' continued Platini, whose downfall cleared the way for the election in early 2016 of Gianni Infantino as FIFA boss.