Former UEFA president Michel Platini filed criminal and civil legal proceedings in French courts on June 8, 2026, targeting FIFA and its current president, Gianni Infantino, over corruption allegations related to a controversial payment made in 2011 [1, 2, 3].

The criminal complaint accuses Infantino, former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger, and former audit committee chairman Domenico Scala of malicious prosecution and influence peddling [1, 4, 2, 3]. Alongside the criminal charges, Platini is pursuing financial compensation through a civil lawsuit, alleging internal FIFA maneuvers aimed at blocking his election as FIFA president [1, 4, 2, 3].

The case traces back to a 2 million Swiss francs payment authorized by then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter to Platini in 2011 [1, 4, 2, 3]. This payment became public in late 2015, triggering corruption allegations that effectively ended Platini's bid to succeed Blatter as FIFA president [1, 4, 2, 3]. In early 2016, following ethics sanctions tied to the scandal, Infantino—who had been UEFA's general secretary under Platini—succeeded Blatter as FIFA president [1, 4, 2, 3].

Platini and Blatter were acquitted of fraud and forgery charges by a Swiss federal criminal appeals court on March 25, 2025, with the acquittal becoming final in September 2025 [1, 4, 2, 3]. After the court's ruling, Platini said he believed the case was intended to prevent him from becoming FIFA president and added that he was now too old to return to football, at age 70 [1, 2, 3].

French investigators have been tasked with examining whether FIFA officials acted improperly and if Swiss prosecutors coordinated with FIFA in the original criminal investigation [1, 2, 3]. FIFA has denied any wrongdoing in handling the 2015 case and was not immediately available for comment [1, 2, 3].

The lawsuits mark the latest legal challenge connected to the long-running dispute over the 2011 payment and its fallout.

The French courts will now consider the criminal allegations and civil claims, with hearings expected in the coming months.