Swiss Prosecutors End Case Against Blatter and Platini

Bern, Switzerland — Swiss federal prosecutors have concluded their lengthy case against ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini, bringing an end to a saga spanning a decade. On Thursday, both men were cleared following two trial acquittals, with the Swiss Attorney General's Office confirming they will not contest the March appeal court's rulings.

Their initial legal battle began with a 2022 trial over accusations including fraud, forgery, and the mismanagement of more than $2 million in FIFA funds back in 2011. The contentious payment to Platini by FIFA came to light during 2015 investigations conducted by authorities in both the United States and Switzerland, focusing on international soccer officials.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, Swiss courts found neither Blatter nor Platini guilty, decisively clearing their names after two separate trials. These proceedings, however, led to their removal from office and subsequently resulted in the 2016 elections that brought Gianni Infantino to the role of FIFA president and Aleksander Ceferin to UEFA's top position.

In a statement on Thursday, Swiss prosecutors acknowledged the finality of the appeal court's decisions, noting that they mark the closure of yet "another chapter in the complex procedures related to football.”

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