FIFA launches legal action against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini

To optimise for archiving, the original image and related documents associated with this article have been removed.

FIFA has begun legal action against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini in order to recover over £1.5 million which was paid to Platini and approved by Blatter in January 2011.

Sepp Blatter became FIFA President in 1998, serving in the position for seventeen years before being banned from football for a period of six years along with a four-year ban for former UEFA Chief Michel Platini, with both having their reputations tarnished by corruption in relation to the payments made by Blatter to Platini. The payment made on 18th January 2011 is now being demanded by FIFA as Blatter had no right to pay Platini £1.54 million out of FIFA funds, therefore making the gift an undue and illicit payment. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has previously ruled that the payment was not legitimate, but there was no repayment no Platini, which is what FIFA is now seeking.

Blatter and Platini deny any wrong doing and claim that the payment was fairly made as it was in relation to work that Platini had carried for Blatter following the 1998 World Cup in France and leading up to the 2002 World Cup. Both have been enthralled in a corruption scandal for the past few years, with Blatter’s Presidential election wins being investigated for bribery and both men have faced questions over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. 

Criminal investigations have been ongoing into the pair since they were both banned in 2015 but as of yet no formal criminal charges have been brought. Platini is cleared to work in football again after his four-year ban expired in October 2019, whilst Blatter is still banned until 2021. 

You may also like

View All

Ex-FIFA vice-president avoids extradition to U.S. for corruption charges

After a ten-year court battle, 82-year-old former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner will not be extradited to the U.S. over corruption charges following a ruling made by a high court in his home country Trinidad and Tobago

Read More

WADA issues revised and New Technical Guidance on Dried Blood Spot Testing, Blood Transfusions, and Clomifene Analysis

WADA has published updated technical guidance on dried blood spot testing, homologous blood transfusion detection, and clomifene analysis. These documents, effective 1 January 2026, clarify procedures, storage requirements, and reporting thresholds for anti-doping laboratories

Read More

WNBA player Caitlin Clark fined for post about referees

Caitlin Clark, an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association has been fined for a social media post about referees. The fine, though minor, has drawn attention amid growing tensions between players and the league over officiating and pay

Read More