Blatter & Platini fully cleared of corruption as case ends

Former Uefa president Michel Platini and ex-Fifa boss Sepp Blatter have been fully cleared of corruption charges, with a long-running case against the pair now closed.

The Swiss Attorney General's Office has confirmed it will not challenge a ruling from March which acquitted both men.

Earlier this year, an appeals court cleared Platini, 70, and Blatter, 89, of impropriety over a payment of 2m Swiss francs (£1.6m) Blatter made to the France legend in 2011. Both men had denied any wrongdoing.

Platini's lawyer Dominic Nellen said: "After two acquittals and the withdrawal of the office of the Attorney General, these criminal proceedings have finally failed.

"Michel Platini has been acquitted with legal effect and fully rehabilitated under criminal law.

"The criminal proceedings had not only legal but also massive personal and professional consequences for Michel Platini - even though no incriminating evidence was ever presented.

"Among other things, the criminal proceedings prevented his election as Fifa president in 2016."

Blatter and Platini were initially acquitted of fraud offences in 2022 and then by the appeals court earlier this year, in a case dating back to 2015.

Both men argued the payment was for advisory work former Uefa chief Platini had done for Fifa.

"Michel Platini notes the withdrawal of the appeal with satisfaction," Nellen added.

"He has always emphasised that the payment was an outstanding back payment of wages. The final acquittal proves him right.

"The Office of the Attorney General has failed to find a single piece of incriminating evidence over a period of 10 years. These proceedings were unjustified and should never have been brought."