Sepp Blatter (ex FIFA president) and his colleague Michel Platinu (ex UEFA President) have both been charged with fraud in Switzerland. This comes as a result of a six year investigation into a 2m Swiss francs (£1.6m) payment from FIFA to Platini. They are possible to face a trial within the next coming months.
This payment affected FIFA’s reputation and affected its assets.
It all began in January of 2011, when Platini wrote to FIFA stating he’d like to be paid backdated additional salaries for the years 1998-2002 as presidential advisor during Blatter’s first term as President.
Blatter authorised FIFA to make the payment within weeks.
He and Platini claimed no wrongdoing and that their was a verbal agreement for the money to be repaid over twenty years ago.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) alleged that an annual compensation of 300,000 Swiss francs for Platini’s consulting was agreed in a written contract signed by both of them in 1999. The OAG alleged that the compensation was invoiced by Platini on each occasion and paid in full by FIFA.
It was alleged that after eight years Platini demanded a 2m Swiss francs payment which was without any legal basis.
In addition, Blatter was charged with mismanagement, misappropriation of FIFA funds, and documentation forgery.
Meanwhile, Platini was charged with forgery, fraud. Misappropriation, and as an accomplice to the alleged mismanagement under Blatter. Source: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini: Former FIFA and UEFA officials charged with fraud | World News | Sky News
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