According to the indictment, Blatter is said to have unlawfully approved a FIFA payment of two million francs (at the current exchange rate almost two million euros) plus social security contributions to Platini.
Platini gave FIFA one in 2011 “Presumably fictitious invoice submitted for an (allegedly) still existing claim for his consulting work for FIFA in the years 1998 to 2002”, according to the court. The trial is scheduled to last until June 22nd.
allegation of unlawful enrichment
The Swiss Federal Prosecutor’s Office brought charges in November 2021. She sees no legal basis for the payment and an unlawful enrichment of Platini. Blatter (86) and Platini (66) had always rejected the allegations.
The FIFA Ethics Committee banned Blatter and Platini six years ago. For both of them, the sanction, some of which was later reduced in duration, meant the end of their careers. Blatter had previously announced his retirement from FIFA leadership.
Source: dpa