FIFA President Gianni Infantino is the subject of a criminal complaint filed by his former UEFA superior, Michel Platini, just days before the 2026 World Cup is set to commence. Platini, a celebrated French footballer and three-time Ballon d'Or winner, was once considered the frontrunner to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016. However, his candidacy was derailed by an ethics investigation into a substantial payment he received from Blatter five years earlier.
Background of the Ethics Probe
In 2015, FIFA's ethics committee imposed an eight-year ban on Platini, which was later reduced to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The controversy centered around a multi-million-pound payment that raised questions about financial impropriety. Criminal proceedings were subsequently initiated against both Platini and Blatter regarding these disputed funds. In 2022, a Swiss federal court acquitted them, and a definitive clearance was issued by the appeals court in 2025.
New Allegations Against Infantino
Platini's legal team has now confirmed that they are pursuing legal action in Paris against Infantino and two former FIFA officials: legal director Marco Villiger and head of auditing and compliance Domenico Scala. According to Platini's lawyer, Olivier Baratelli, the criminal complaint alleges that Infantino, Villiger, and Scala orchestrated a concerted effort to prevent Platini from contesting the FIFA presidency. Additionally, Platini is suing FIFA for financial damages, claiming that the organization deliberately engineered a scheme to block his bid to replace Blatter.
Infantino previously served as UEFA general secretary under Platini before winning the election to become FIFA president a decade ago, a position he has held ever since. The emergence of these allegations comes at a critical time, just before Mexico kicks off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa, placing immense pressure on Infantino and FIFA as they prepare for a newly expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
