GENEVA (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino He was again the subject of criminal charges in France on Monday by his former boss Michel Platini, who seemed destined to lead FIFA until his involvement in the case. financial fraud case In 2015.
French football great Platini — who was he? He was acquitted again last year. After the second Swiss court hearing, Switzerland asked a lawyer in Paris to file criminal charges against Infantino and five other Swiss soccer officials and prosecutors. He alleges that there was a conspiracy to spread false accusations and influence to prevent him from becoming FIFA president 10 years ago.
In a statement about the allegations, a spokesman for Platini said his lawyers would also file a civil lawsuit seeking damages from FIFA. Previously created in 2022 To the Swiss authorities.
The new filing was announced three days before Infantino’s opening. world cup Being played all over North America, he was able to play frequently share the political stage with the president of the United States Donald Trump.
FIFA has been asked to comment on Mr Platini’s legal claims.
Infantino was elected as FIFA president in 2016 as a surprise candidate from European soccer body UEFA, and served as general secretary to President Platini for many years.
Platini was widely expected in soccer circles to become FIFA president, replacing former coach Sepp Blatter, who stepped down in the aftermath of a U.S. federal investigation into soccer corruption that was lifted in May 2015.
But four months later, Mr Platini and Mr Blatter became the subject of a separate Swiss investigation into a payment of 2 million Swiss francs (about 250 million yen) to the Frenchman, which resulted in his early removal from public office.
Mr. Platini and Mr. Blatter were jointly acquitted twice of defrauding FIFA. tried in switzerland There was an appeal by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in 2022 and again last year.
The five people targeted in Platini’s criminal complaint include Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber in 2015 and FIFA’s then head of legal affairs Marco Villiger.
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