A new twist in the endless “FIFAgate” soap opera, this myriad of criminal proceedings and politico-financial scandals in connection with the International Football Federation (FIFA). According to our information, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Swiss Confederation (MPC) broadened, in November, its investigation targeting the former president of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, and the former boss of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini.
Contacted, the Swiss prosecutor’s office let it be known that it “Adopted a different point of view from that which he had previously had on an aspect of the procedure” concerning the alleged unfair payment of 2 million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros) made in February 2011 by Sepp Blatter to Michel Platini.
The prosecution specifies that Mr. Blatter is now the subject of an investigation for “suspicion of fraud, embezzlement and unfair management”. As for Mr. Platini, targeted since June for “suspicion of forgery in securities and participation in unfair management”, he is also targeted for “suspicion of fraud and participation in embezzlement”.
“We will dispute these new accusations”
“I have a good conscience and have nothing to reproach myself with”, told the World Sepp Blatter. “ This judicial harassment has lasted too long, responds the Platini camp. We will challenge with the greatest vigor and by all means these new accusations which are pure judicial conjecture. Michel Platini has been since 2015, i.e. five long years: witness, assisted witness, then officially cleared by the same MPC in 2018, then suspect interviewed on the basis of suspicions raised by the last hearings. ”
“The MPC is now seeking to reclassify these same facts in an attempt to artificially justify the continuation of this interminable procedure, adds the entourage of ex-number 10. It is truly astounding for the justice of a country like Switzerland. “
MM. Platini and Blatter claim to have sealed an oral contract in 1998, agreeing on an annual remuneration of 1 million Swiss francs. In 1999, they initialed a written contract establishing an annual salary of 300,000 Swiss francs paid to the French. In March 2011, this payment of 2 million Swiss francs was validated by the FIFA finance committee in the 2010 accounts of the International Federation.
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