Fifa scandal engulfs president Sepp Blatter and Uefa chief Michel Platini as criminal proceedings are opened
Authorities in Zurich are investigating an illegal US$2 million payment from the Swiss boss to the French legend
The Fifa scandal on Friday engulfed Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, the two most powerful figures in world football with Swiss prosecutors investigating an illegal US$2 million payment from Blatter to the French legend.
Swiss investigators opened criminal proceedings against Fifa president Blatter and searched his office and also quizzed his Uefa counterpart Platini.
READ MORE: The curious timing of the alleged US$2m ‘disloyal payment’ – and the issues ahead for Fifa, Blatter and Platini
“Swiss criminal proceedings against the president of Fifa, Mr Joseph Blatter, have been opened on 24 September this year on suspicion of criminal mismanagement ... and – alternatively – misappropriation,” said a statement from Switzerland’s attorney general’s office (OAG).
[Blatter] is suspected of making a disloyal payment of 2 million Swiss francs (HK$15.8 million) to Michel Platini
Blatter, 79, is standing down because of corruption scandals involving other top officials and Platini had been favourite to win an election to be held in February to succeed him.
The Swiss prosecutor said that “the defendant Joseph Blatter” had been questioned and “the office of the Fifa president has been searched and data seized”.
Blatter was questioned as “a suspect”. The statement added that Platini had been questioned “as a person called upon to give information”.
