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Sepp Blatter, Platini indicted for fraud in Switzerland

Published:Tuesday | November 2, 2021 | 11:07 AM
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter (left) and former UEFA President Michel Platini are engaged in conversation during the 65th FIFA Congress held at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday, May 29, 2015. Swiss prosecutors have charged former FI
AP
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter (left) and former UEFA President Michel Platini are engaged in conversation during the 65th FIFA Congress held at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday, May 29, 2015. Swiss prosecutors have charged former FIFA officials Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini with fraud and other offenses.

GENEVA (AP):

Former FIFA officials Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were charged with fraud and other offenses by Swiss prosecutors today, after a six-year investigation into a controversial $2 million payment.

The 85-year-old Blatter and 66-year-old Platini now face a trial within months at federal criminal court in Bellinzona. They could be jailed for several years if found guilty.

“This payment damaged FIFA’s assets and unlawfully enriched Platini,” Swiss federal prosecutors said in a statement.

The case was opened in September 2015 and ousted Blatter ahead of schedule as FIFA president. It also ended then-UEFA president Platini’s campaign to succeed his former mentor.

Swiss cases often take years to reach a conclusion.

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