Michel Platini sues Gianni Infantino for damages related to FIFA presidency bid
The former UEFA president filed criminal and civil complaints in France, alleging a conspiracy to derail his 2015 FIFA presidential campaign.
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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 9, 2026Michel Platini is going on offense. The former UEFA president filed criminal and civil complaints in Paris against FIFA President Gianni Infantino and several former FIFA officials, alleging they conspired to torpedo his bid for the FIFA presidency back in 2015.
The filings, lodged around June 8-9, land just ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What Platini is alleging
The criminal complaint targets Infantino and focuses on alleged conspiracy involving malicious prosecution and influence peddling. Platini’s civil lawsuit seeks damages from FIFA itself, claiming the organization actively worked to prevent him from winning the 2015 presidential election.
At the center of everything sits a familiar number: 2 million Swiss francs, roughly $2.51 million. That payment, authorized by then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter and received by Platini, surfaced during the sweeping 2015 FIFA corruption scandal and effectively ended Platini’s presidential ambitions. He was suspended from football activities, clearing the path for Infantino’s eventual election.
AdvertisementPlatini and Blatter were acquitted of corruption charges by a Swiss federal criminal appeals court in March 2025. That acquittal appears to be the foundation upon which Platini is now building his counterattack.
This isn’t Platini’s first attempt at legal recourse either. He previously filed complaints with Swiss authorities in 2018 and 2021, making the current French proceedings an escalation rather than a fresh grievance.
FIFA has not publicly responded to the complaints.
The broader FIFA governance saga
The 2015 FIFA corruption scandal was one of the most consequential events in global sports governance. US federal prosecutors indicted dozens of officials. Blatter resigned. Platini, once the prohibitive favorite to succeed him, was banned. Infantino, then UEFA’s general secretary, won the subsequent election.
The March 2025 acquittal effectively validated the claim that the payment at the scandal’s core was a legitimate, if delayed, consulting fee rather than a bribe.
The specific amount of damages Platini is seeking hasn’t been disclosed.
What this means for investors watching FIFA’s digital ambitions
FIFA has been building out its presence in the blockchain and digital assets space, pursuing fan engagement platforms and digital collectibles as revenue streams. These initiatives depend heavily on institutional credibility and brand partnerships.
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, FIFA’s digital partnerships are entering their highest-visibility phase. There has been no visible connection disclosed between the litigation and FIFA’s ongoing digital asset initiatives, but reputational risks may exacerbate with renewed legal disputes.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
