MICHEL PLATINI

(Ti-Press/Alessandro Crinari/Keystone via AP) (Alessandro Crinari)BELLINZONA, Switzerland — (AP) — Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were acquitted on charges of defrauding FIFA by a Swiss criminal court on Friday, a rare positive outcome for the pair who were among soccer’s most powerful figures before being embroiled in corruption investigations. The case was centered around a $2 million payment from FIFA to Platini with Blatter’s approval in 2011, for work done a decade earlier. Both Blatter and Platini have long denied wrongdoing and claim they had a verbal deal in 1998 for Platini to get extra salary that FIFA could not pay at the time. Platini did not identify current FIFA president Gianni Infantino though it seemed clear he was one of the “culprits” referred to. Now aged 86 and seeming frail at court, Blatter was banned by FIFA ethics judges again last year into 2028 for alleged self-dealing in management bonuses.

The two had denied the charges against them.

Blatter and the former president of the the European Football Association (Uefa), Michel Platini, stand trial before the Federal Criminal Court from Wednesday, over a suspicious two-million payment. (Ti-Press/Alessandro Crinari/Keystone via AP) (Alessandro Crinari)BELLINZONA, Switzerland — (AP) — Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were acquitted on charges of defrauding FIFA by a Swiss criminal court on Friday, a rare positive outcome for the pair who were among soccer’s most powerful figures before being embroiled in corruption investigations. Swiss prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand had requested a 20-month suspended sentence for each at the end of the trial at the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland in Bellinzona. A separate but cooperating case by Swiss prosecutors led to the Platini payment being investigated. Both Blatter and Platini have long denied wrongdoing and claim they had a verbal deal in 1998 for Platini to get extra salary that FIFA could not pay at the time.

Switzerland FIFA Trial Blatter Platini The former president of the World Football Association (FIFA), Joseph Blatter, speaks as he arrives at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Blatter and the former president of the the European Football Association (UEFA), Michel Platini, will stand trial before the Federal Criminal Court from Wednesday, over a suspicious two-million payment. (Alessandro Crinari/Keystone via AP) (Alessandro Crinari)BELLINZONA, Switzerland — (AP) — Prosecutors in the fraud trial of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and vice president Michel Platini asked Wednesday for both men to get 20-month suspended prison sentences. Blatter and Platini deny fraud and lesser charges relating to a FIFA-approved $2 million payment to the France great in 2011. At the time, Platini was UEFA president, a FIFA vice president and was expected to succeed Blatter, likely in 2015.

APTOPIX Switzerland FIFA Trial Blatter Platini Soccer Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is surrounded by the media as he leaves the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini have arrived at a Swiss criminal court for their 11-day trial on charges of defrauding FIFA, the world governing body of soccer. “I feel much better, thank you,” the 86-year-old Blatter said at the start of Thursday’s session at the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland in Bellinzona. “When I was elected FIFA president, we had a bad balance. Blatter and Platini each face up to five years in prison, but suspended sentences are a likely option.

Soccer FIFA Trial Blatter Platini FILE - FIFA president Sepp Blatter is greeted by UEFA President Michel Platini, right, after Blatter's re-election as president at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 29, 2015. Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini enter a criminal court Wednesday charged with defrauding world soccer body FIFA. In 2015, federal prosecutors in Switzerland revealed their investigation into a $2 million payment from FIFA to Platini from four years earlier. Blatter and Platini each face of up to five years in prison, but suspended sentences are a likely option. The Platini money was “accounted for accordingly and approved by all responsible FIFA authorities,” Blatter said in a statement.

The 85-year-old former FIFA president and 66-year-old former UEFA president now face a trial at federal criminal court in Bellinzona.

BERN, Switzerland — (AP) — Former FIFA officials Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were charged with fraud and other offenses by Swiss prosecutors on Tuesday after investigating a controversial $2 million payment for six years. The 85-year-old Blatter and 65-year-old Platini now face a trial within months at federal criminal court in Bellinzona. “This payment damaged FIFA’s assets and unlawfully enriched Platini,” Swiss federal prosecutors said in a statement. The case from September 2015 ousted Blatter ahead of schedule as FIFA president and ended then-UEFA president Platini’s campaign to succeed his former mentor. Blatter has been charged with fraud, mismanagement, misappropriation of FIFA funds and forgery of a document.

Former FIFA officials Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were charged with fraud and other offenses by Swiss prosecutors on Tuesday after a six-year investigation into a controversial $2 million payment. The 85-year-old Blatter and 66-year-old Platini now face a trial at federal criminal court in Bellinzona. “This payment damaged FIFA’s assets and unlawfully enriched Platini,” Swiss federal prosecutors said in a statement.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the highest-scoring man in the international soccer history with his 110th goal for Portugal on Wednesday.

A sprawling European Championship like no other is racking up air miles like never before.

Cristiano Ronaldo set the record for most goals at the European Championship with two of them in Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Hungary at a packed Puskas Arena.

Cristiano Ronaldo was stopped by a security official to have his identity checked before playing for Portugal against Hungary at the European Championship.

A tournament intended to be a celebration of European soccer will instead reflect many of the uncertainties that have beset the sport during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gerard Houllier, a Frenchman who won three titles in one season as coach of English club Liverpool, has died. “We are mourning the passing of our treble-winning manager, Gerard Houllier," Liverpool wrote on Twitter. Rest in peace, Gerard Houllier 1947-2020." “Absolutely devastated by the news about Gerard Houllier," Jamie Carragher wrote on Twitter. His tenure at Liverpool was far more successful, leading the Reds to the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup treble in 2001.

City fans are celebrating a squad of lawyers outsmarting UEFAs judicial machinery in extra time and saving the club from a devastating two-year Champions League ban. It is still the biggest sanction for an English club since City was fined 30 million euros in the original 2014 FFP case for overspending. Clubs across Europe made a combined profit of 140 million euros in 2018 compared to losses of 1.163 billion euros in 2009 before FFP was implemented. The CAS verdict only reinforces City fans grievances with European footballs governing body. Meanwhile, City could end an extraordinary season by lifting UEFA's biggest club prize for the first time: The European Cup.

FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, June 19, 2018, former FIFA President Joseph Blatter in Moscow, Russia. According to documents Saturday June 13, 2020, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is the target of a new investigation in Switzerland for suspected criminal mismanagement of soccer funds. The Swiss federal prosecution office did not immediately reply to a request for comment from the AP. The Swiss prosecution document does not directly link the timing of FIFAs $1 million payment with the general election in Trinidad and Tobago. A second Swiss criminal proceeding has been open against Blatter since September 2015 related to FIFA payments to former UEFA president Michel Platini.