Former UEFA president Michel Platini has told a Swiss appeals court that FIFA owed him the two million Swiss francs ($2.2 million) at the center of a long-running legal battle.
Speaking in court on Monday, Platini expressed frustration over the case. "I still don’t understand why the prosecutor’s office is targeting me," the 69-year-old former football star said.
The special appeals court in Muttenz, near Basel, is reviewing a request by Switzerland’s Attorney General to reopen proceedings against Platini and former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who turns 89 on March 10.
Background of the Case
The legal dispute dates back to 2015 when Blatter stepped down as FIFA president amid corruption allegations. The case focuses on a payment FIFA made to Platini in 2011 for consultancy work.
Both men were acquitted in June 2022 by the Swiss Federal Court, which ruled that fraud was "not established with a likelihood bordering on certainty." However, Swiss prosecutors are now seeking to reopen the case.
Platini’s Testimony
In court, Platini recalled how Blatter first asked about his salary expectations when he joined FIFA as an advisor in 1998.
"Since I didn’t know much about FIFA’s world, I randomly said ‘one million,’" Platini explained. "Blatter asked, ‘One million of what?’ As a joke, I said, ‘One million of anything—roubles, pesetas, lire.’ Then he settled on ‘one million Swiss francs.’"
Since FIFA couldn’t afford to pay the full amount at the time, Platini said they agreed on a written contract for 300,000 Swiss francs, with the remaining balance to be paid later.
Platini submitted an invoice in 2011, which Swiss prosecutors later described as "false" and an attempt to defraud FIFA.
Blatter’s Defense
Blatter, also in court on Monday, said he had a "gentleman’s agreement" with Platini. However, the deal was never put in writing, had no witnesses, and wasn’t recorded in FIFA’s official accounts.
Platini maintained that FIFA was legally bound to pay him. "A contract is a contract, and a word is a word," he said. "If FIFA hadn’t paid, I would have taken legal action."
The court proceedings continue as prosecutors push to revive the case.
