After nearly a decade of investigations and a career-defining trial, Michel Platini and former FIFA president Sepp Blatter have been definitively acquitted by the Court of Appeal in Muttenz , Switzerland.
The ruling confirms the acquittal already obtained in the first instance, putting an end to a legal case that in 2015 had prevented Platini from running for the leadership of world football. The investigation revolved around alleged financial irregularities related to the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar World Cups. The Swiss prosecutor's office had requested a suspended prison sentence of one year and eight months for the two former top UEFA and FIFA officials , accusing them of fraud, forgery of documents, and dishonest management.
The acquittal on appeal represents a major victory for Platini, who has been fighting for years to clear his name. The former Juventus star and three-time Ballon d'Or winner has always denied all charges, claiming he was the victim of a political maneuver to exclude him from the FIFA presidential race.
It is important that Platini and Blatter were acquitted, but it remains to be seen whether the accusations were truly justified or not. Justice must always be done and investigations must be thorough.