Swiss Court Upholds Acquittal of Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter in FIFA Fraud Case

The appellate court ruled that prosecutors failed to prove fraud allegations with sufficient certainty, leaving only limited grounds for further appeal.

Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter were acquitted on appeal by the Swiss court over a 2 million Swiss francs payment made by FIFA in 2011.
The court upheld the 2022 ruling, citing insufficient evidence to establish fraud with the required certainty.
Prosecutors had sought 20 months of suspended prison time for both men but were unable to meet the burden of proof.
The payment was claimed by the defense to be part of an oral agreement for unpaid salary, while prosecutors argued it was a fraudulent 'false invoice.'
This ruling concludes nearly a decade of legal proceedings, though a limited appeal to the Swiss Federal Court remains possible.