Former UEFA president Michel Platini has begun fresh legal proceedings against FIFA and president Gianni Infantino, alleging that actions taken during the corruption scandal that engulfed world football in 2015 prevented him from becoming head of the global governing body.
The Frenchman has filed a criminal complaint in France accusing Infantino and two former FIFA officials of malicious prosecution. He is also pursuing a civil claim seeking financial compensation from FIFA.
FIFA Presidency Ambitions Blocked
Platini was once considered the overwhelming favorite to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.
At the time, he was one of the most influential figures in football administration, having spent eight years leading UEFA and overseeing a period of significant change in European football.
The legal action comes more than a decade after allegations surrounding a payment of two million Swiss francs made to Platini by FIFA triggered investigations that ultimately ended his ambitions of leading world football.
2015 Scandal and Infantino’s Rise
Although Platini and Blatter consistently denied wrongdoing, the controversy led to lengthy bans from football and removed the Frenchman from contention in the race to become FIFA president.
Infantino, who had worked under Platini as UEFA general secretary, was subsequently elected to the role in 2016 and has remained FIFA president ever since.
The latest case follows a major legal victory for Platini in 2025 when a Swiss federal criminal appeals court cleared both him and Blatter of corruption-related charges, upholding an earlier acquittal.
Platini’s Legendary Playing Career
Before entering football politics, Platini established himself as one of the sport’s greatest players.
The former midfielder starred for France during the 1980s and captained his country to victory at the 1984 European Championship. His nine goals at the tournament remain one of the most remarkable individual performances in the competition’s history.
At the club level, Platini enjoyed successful spells with Nancy, Saint-Étienne, and Juventus. During his time in Italy, he won two Serie A titles, the European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.
His achievements were recognized with three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards between 1983 and 1985, a feat that set a new benchmark at the time.
Move Into Football Administration
After retiring, Platini moved into football administration and helped organize the 1998 World Cup in France before rising through the game’s governing structures.
Platini’s Legacy at UEFA
Platini became UEFA president in 2007 after defeating long-serving incumbent Lennart Johansson.
His presidency was marked by several major reforms, including the introduction of Financial Fair Play regulations, designed to improve clubs’ financial sustainability and curb excessive spending.
He also championed greater representation for smaller football nations in European competitions and oversaw the expansion of the European Championship from 16 to 24 teams.
Those initiatives strengthened his reputation as one of football’s most powerful administrators and positioned him as the leading candidate to take over at FIFA.