The Two Million Questions: Trial against Blatter and Platini begins

Blatter (86) and Platini (66) have long since lost their position as the most powerful men in world football - it is now eagerly awaited whether all the background information can be revealed in the trial against the former friends at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. The most important questions about the hearing that begins on Wednesday. What are Blatter and Platini accused of? The charges include fraud, forgery and several other crimes. The two former top officials are accused of deceiving the world association about an allegedly outstanding claim by Platini from his consulting work for FIFA and Blatter from July 1998 to mid-2002. In 2010, what the Federal Prosecutor's Office believed was a fictitious invoice for two million Swiss francs was submitted by then UEFA President Platini and confirmed by Blatter. The sum went from FIFA to Platini's account in 2011. What do the accused say? Platini's defense sees the trial as the “result of a conspiracy”. One can “demonstrate in detail that the proceedings against Mr. Platini were politically motivated with the aim of preventing him from becoming FIFA President,” said lawyer Dominic Nellen. The aim was to “eliminate” Platini as FIFA President. The former European champion was considered Blatter's logical successor. Instead, his former confidant Gianni Infantino rose to become head of the world association. Blatter (left) and Platini are accused of a whole range of crimes. © APA/epa / WALTER BIERI

The FIFA Ethics Committee banned Blatter and Platini for eight years each in 2015. Even though these sanctions were later reduced, the ban meant the end of Platini's ambitions to become head of the world association. Blatter had also always rejected the allegations. He looks forward to the trial “with optimism”: “I hope that this story will come to an end and that all the facts will be properly dealt with,” he said recently. How does the process work? A total of eleven days of negotiations are scheduled until June 22nd. A verdict is due to be announced on July 8th. Blatter will be questioned on Wednesday, followed a day later by Platini and the witness statements will begin. The meeting days are only scheduled from nine a.m. to 13.30:2021 p.m. - with a view to the health of Blatter, who was temporarily in an artificial coma after an operation at the beginning of XNUMX. Blatter and Platini each face a prison sentence of up to five years. However, if convicted, a lesser sentence is considered likely. What role does FIFA play? The world association acts as a co-plaintiff and wants to get the money back. FIFA President Infantino will not appear as a witness. Platini reported the ex-UEFA general secretary to the French judiciary at the end of last year for active influence. The FIFA boss had always rejected the accusation of collusion. In May 2021, a Swiss investigator was no longer allowed to take further action against him because of bias.

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The Two Million Questions: Trial against Blatter and Platini begins

These are two of the biggest unanswered questions in the scandal-ridden world of football officials. Why did two million Swiss francs flow from FIFA to Michel Platini under Joseph Blatter? And how did the Swiss criminal investigators find out about the dubious payment?

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