Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Triumph Again in Swiss Court

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini secured another legal victory in Swiss court, being acquitted of fraud-related charges for the second time. The charges involved misappropriation of over $2 million in FIFA funds. Both former football officials have consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the decade-long legal battle.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini emerged victorious in a Swiss court on Tuesday, marking their second acquittal on charges of fraud, forgery, and mismanagement related to $2 million of FIFA funds. The former FIFA and UEFA presidents faced accusations of financial misdeeds dating back to 2011.

The Swiss attorney general's office had challenged their initial acquittal from July 2022, seeking suspended sentences. However, the appeals court ruled in favor of Blatter and Platini, who maintained their innocence throughout the prolonged legal proceedings.

Despite their legal wins, both Blatter's and Platini's careers in soccer remain tarnished by earlier ethics violations. Blatter is banned from the sport until 2028, while Platini's ban expired in 2019. The legal saga underscores ongoing global scrutiny of FIFA's governance.

(With inputs from agencies.)