For former FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and former UEFA boss Michel Platini, Friday is the day of judgment in court. At 10:00 a.m. in Bellinzona, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court will deliver the eagerly awaited verdict in the proceedings against the once most powerful men in world football. However, the duo should be spared a prison sentence.
In their pleadings, the public prosecutor’s office called for a suspended sentence of one year and eight months, with the suspended sentence being two years. In addition, Platini should reimburse the amount received and the social benefits paid on it. The lawyers for Blatter and Platini each demanded an acquittal, the ex-officials protested their innocence in court.
Both are accused of fraud and document forgery by the Swiss Attorney General (OAG). The Swiss Blatter is also accused of embezzlement and unfaithful business management, the French Platini for aiding and abetting. It’s about two million Swiss francs (1.92 million euros) plus 229,126 francs (220,000 euros) in social security contributions. These sums went from FIFA to then-UEFA boss Platini in 2011.
The investigation into the case led to Blatter, like Platini, being banned for eight years each by the FIFA Ethics Committee in 2015. Although the bans were later reduced, Platini’s attempt to become Blatter’s successor at the top of FIFA failed. Instead, Gianni Infantino rose to become FIFA boss, and the Platini side forged the image of a conspiracy in the process.