By Adegboyega Adeleye
Former UEFA president Michel Platini has launched legal proceedings against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, over corruption allegations that he claims destroyed his chances of leading world football.
According to the BBC, Platini has filed both criminal and civil cases in France, accusing FIFA officials of actions that ultimately derailed his bid to become FIFA president.
The 70-year-old French football legend is seeking financial compensation from FIFA and has also filed a criminal complaint against Infantino, former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger and former audit committee chairman Domenico Scala.
Platini alleges that efforts were made to block his election as FIFA president following the emergence of corruption allegations in 2015.
At the time, Platini was widely regarded as the frontrunner to succeed former FIFA president Sepp Blatter after serving as UEFA president between 2008 and 2015.
However, both men became embroiled in controversy over a payment of two million Swiss francs made to Platini in 2011 and approved by Blatter.
The allegations triggered investigations by FIFA’s ethics committee, leading to lengthy bans for both officials and effectively ending Platini’s hopes of taking charge of world football’s governing body.
Platini was initially suspended for eight years before the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the sanction to four years.
The case cast a shadow over one of football’s most influential administrators. Before entering football politics, Platini enjoyed a distinguished playing career, winning the Ballon d’Or three consecutive times and captaining France to European Championship glory.
In a major development last year, both Platini and Blatter were cleared of corruption charges by a Swiss federal criminal appeals court, bringing an end to one of football’s longest-running legal sagas.
Platini now argues that the allegations and subsequent disciplinary actions unjustly prevented him from becoming FIFA president.
Ironically, Infantino, who served as UEFA general secretary under Platini, eventually succeeded Blatter as FIFA president and remains in charge of the organisation.
FIFA has yet to publicly respond to the latest legal action, according to the BBC.
The lawsuit reopens one of the most controversial chapters in football governance and could once again place FIFA’s leadership and decision-making processes under intense scrutiny.
