Platini Strikes Back: Legal Battles Against FIFA and Infantino

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has launched legal proceedings against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, over 2015 corruption allegations that thwarted his FIFA presidential bid. The civil and criminal cases filed in France target alleged malicious prosecution and seek financial compensation. Platini and Sepp Blatter were acquitted of fraud by a Swiss court in March 2025.

Michel Platini, the former UEFA president, has initiated civil and criminal legal actions in France against FIFA and its current president, Gianni Infantino. The litigation concerns corruption allegations from 2015 that derailed Platini's aspirations to lead the global soccer body.

The criminal complaint filed in Paris accuses Infantino, along with ex-FIFA legal director Marco Villiger and former audit committee chair Domenico Scala, of malicious prosecution and influence peddling. Alongside, a separate civil lawsuit seeks full financial compensation over alleged internal tactics that thwarted Platini's FIFA presidency bid over a decade ago.

Platini, who, alongside Sepp Blatter, was acquitted by a Swiss court on fraud charges related to a payment authorized by Blatter, believes these allegations were designed to obstruct his path to becoming FIFA president. FIFA denies wrongdoing, and Platini, now aged 70, claims the legal saga made him reconsider returning to football.