Former UEFA president, Michel Platini, has instigated civil and legal proceedings against FIFA and its current president, Gianni Infantino. The lawsuit stems from corruption allegations dating back to 2015 that Platini claims thwarted his ambition to head the governing body.
The criminal complaint lodged in French courts implicates Infantino along with two ex-FIFA officials - Marco Villiger, former legal director, and Domenico Scala, previous audit committee chair. They are accused of malicious prosecution.
In a separate civil lawsuit, 70-year-old Platini is pursuing financial compensation from FIFA for alleged attempts to obstruct his election as the organization's president.
Promising career derailed by corruption claims
Platini served as UEFA president from 2008 until 2015 and was considered a strong contender to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA's leader in 2016. However, both men found themselves entangled in fraud and corruption allegations over a payment of £1.6 million (2 million Swiss francs) made to Platini in 2011 that was reportedly authorized by Blatter.
This controversy led Blatter to step down from his position and dashed Platini's hopes of becoming the head of FIFA. The Frenchman also received an eight-year ban from FIFA’s ethics committee – a penalty later reduced to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Both Blatter and Platini faced criminal charges but were exonerated of corruption by a Swiss federal criminal appeals court in March 2025. Infantino who served under Platini as general secretary at UEFA took over from Blatter as FIFA’s president after this scandal unfolded. BBC Sport has reached out to Fifa for comments on these recent developments.
This ongoing saga between former UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA continues to unfold, with the latest legal proceedings adding another chapter to this complex story. As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts, it's essential to stay informed about these developments as they could potentially impact the world of football governance.
