Former Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) president Michel Platini has launched civil and criminal legal proceedings in France against FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, accusing the governing body of orchestrating a corruption campaign that ended his bid to lead world football.
According to reports, a criminal complaint filed in Paris names Infantino, former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger and former audit committee chairman Domenico Scala, accusing them of malicious prosecution and influence peddling.
Platini has also filed a separate civil lawsuit against FIFA, seeking full financial compensation over what he alleges were internal manoeuvres designed to block his election as FIFA president more than a decade ago.
The case traces back to late 2015, when details emerged of a payment of $2.51 million made to Platini by FIFA. The payment had been authorised in 2011 by then president Sepp Blatter.
The subsequent ethics investigation resulted in bans that sidelined the former France captain, clearing the path for Infantino, who was then serving as UEFA general secretary under Platini, to win the FIFA presidency in early 2016.
Platini’s legal action in France follows his definitive acquittal by a Swiss federal criminal appeals court on March 25, 2025. The ruling cleared him of fraud and forgery charges, with the acquittal becoming final in September that year. After the ruling, the now 70-year-old said that he believed the case had been designed to prevent him from becoming FIFA president, adding that he was now too old to return to football.
Under the criminal complaint, French investigators have been asked to examine the conduct of FIFA officials and whether Swiss prosecutors improperly coordinated with the governing body during the original criminal investigation.
FIFA has previously denied any wrongdoing in its handling of the 2015 case and had not made any comment at the time of reporting.
