SEPP Blatter, former FIFA President, stated that he was innocent to a Swiss court on Monday (3) alongside former French soccer player Michel Platini, two and a half years after both were acquitted of fraud.
in a lower Swiss court after one.
The Swiss federal prosecutor appealed this decision, leading to a new hearing in the Swiss Criminal Court of Extraordinary Appeals in Muttenz, near Basel. Authority asked the trial to be completely annulled.
Blatter told court on Monday that he was not guilty of fraud.
“When you talk about falsehoods, lies and mistakes, this is not me. This has not existed in all my life, ”he said.
“We had principles in my family, we took only the money we earned,” he added. “I’m innocent.”
The 2022 accusation accused Blatter and Platini of deceiving in 2010 and 2011 about an obligation of the worldwide football manager of paying the Frenchman, who was president of the time.
“They falsely claimed that FIFA owed Platini, or that Platini was entitled to 2 million Swiss francs for consulting work. This mistake was achieved through repeated false allegations made by both accused, ”the accusation said.
The case destroyed Platini’s hopes of eventually succeeding Blatter, who renounced FIFA in 2015 after a separate corruption scandal.
Blatter and Platini were suspended from football in 2015 by FIFA for ethical violations, originally for eight years, although their exclusions were later reduced.
The pair was acquitted in the case of 2022 after a judge accepted that his report of a “gentlemen’s agreement” for payment was reliable. The judge also said that there were serious doubts about the prosecution’s claim that he was fraudulent.
The Swiss federal prosecutor is looking for a 20-month sentence, suspended for two years against Blatter and Platini, former captain and coach of the French soccer team.
“Witch Hunt”
Blatter, who was president of FIFA for 17 years by 2015, said before the hearing that he felt the target of a witch hunt.
“I am very positive,” the 88 -year -old man, fragile, told reporters outside the court before the beginning of the lawsuit.
“Today is a very sunny day and I’m coming in with positive energy.”
Platini, a three -time European player of the year, is also confident of being acquitted, said the 69 -year -old lawyer.
“The court of first instance was certain to consider that the contested payment of 2 million francs was legal,” said Platini lawyer Dominic Nellen.
The verdict is expected for March 25.
