Michel Platini has begun civil and criminal legal proceedings against FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino over corruption allegations that effectively ended his bid to become FIFA president in 2016.
The former France captain claims the accusations made against him in 2015 were part of a deliberate effort to block his rise to football’s top administrative position. Platini has now filed complaints in French courts seeking both accountability and financial compensation.
The 70-year-old was widely considered the favourite to succeed Sepp Blatter before a long-running investigation dramatically changed the course of his career.
Platini accuses FIFA officials
Platini’s criminal complaint accuses FIFA president Gianni Infantino, former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger and former audit committee chairman Domenico Scala of malicious prosecution.
According to the complaint, the actions of the officials contributed to investigations and disciplinary proceedings that damaged his reputation and removed him from football administration at a crucial moment.
Alongside the criminal case, Platini has also filed a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for what he alleges were efforts to prevent him from winning the FIFA presidential election.
The payment that sparked controversy
The controversy dates back to 2015 when allegations emerged regarding a payment of two million Swiss francs made to Platini in 2011.
The payment had been authorised by then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter and was linked to advisory work carried out by Platini years earlier. However, investigators questioned the legitimacy of the payment, leading to corruption and fraud allegations.
The scandal rocked world football and led to major changes within FIFA’s leadership structure.
Ban ended FIFA ambitions
The investigation had severe consequences for Platini’s career.
He was suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee and initially handed an eight-year ban from football-related activities. Although the Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced the sanction to four years, the punishment effectively ended his campaign to become FIFA president.
At the time, Platini was serving as UEFA president and was regarded as one of the most influential figures in global football administration.
Swiss court cleared Platini and Blatter
Both Platini and former FIFA president Sepp Blatter consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the legal process.
Their position was vindicated in March 2025 when a Swiss federal criminal appeals court cleared both men of corruption-related charges.
The verdict marked the end of one of football’s longest-running legal battles and reignited debate about the events that prevented Platini from contesting the FIFA presidency.
Infantino’s rise remains under scrutiny
While Platini’s ambitions collapsed, Gianni Infantino emerged as FIFA president in 2016.
Infantino had previously served as UEFA’s general secretary under Platini before taking over world football’s governing body following Blatter’s departure.
Platini’s latest legal action is likely to renew scrutiny over the turbulent period that reshaped FIFA leadership and altered the course of football governance for the past decade.
The outcome of the new proceedings could have significant implications for both Platini’s legacy and FIFA’s leadership as the organisation prepares for another presidential election cycle.
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