Platini files fresh cases against FIFA and Infantino

Michel Platini has launched new legal action in France against FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, escalating a long-running dispute rooted in the events that derailed Platini’s path to the FIFA presidency in 2015.Platini has filed a criminal complaint in Paris alongside a separate civil claim against FIFA, arguing that internal manoeuvres and external influence were used to remove him from contention to succeed Sepp Blatter.The criminal filing accuses Infantino and other former FIFA figures of actions including malicious prosecution and influence peddling, according to Platini’s representatives, with the complaint also naming former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger and ex-audit committee chair Domenico Scala.The move reopens a politically sensitive episode for FIFA’s leadership at a time when governance scrutiny is intensifying ahead of the expanded 2026 World Cup.Platini’s case traces back to a 2 million Swiss francs payment authorised in 2011 by Blatter, which became the centre of disciplinary and criminal proceedings years later.Platini and Blatter were banned by football authorities in 2015, a decision that effectively removed Platini from the FIFA presidential race and cleared the path for Infantino to win the election in 2016.Platini and Blatter were later acquitted in Switzerland of fraud and forgery charges connected to the payment, with that acquittal becoming final in 2025.Platini’s filing argues the process was engineered to block his election bid and to damage his standing inside global football’s power structure.A statement issued on Platini’s behalf said: “This complaint specifically targets the individuals who worked to eliminate Michel Platini from the race for the FIFA presidency.”It added: “The Parisian investigating judge, along with investigative agencies, police, and gendarmerie, are tasked with uncovering and exposing the internal manoeuvres within FIFA, with the possible complicity of Swiss magistrates.”FIFA confirmed the dispute has been settled between the parties while rejecting any suggestion of wrongdoing.A FIFA spokesperson said: “Following the global agreement they have reached, Mr Lassana Diarra and FIFA have settled all legal proceedings between them. FIFA has not made any admission of liability nor payment by way of compensation. FIFA will not be providing any further comment at this time.”Platini, 70, has previously argued that the sequence of investigations and disciplinary actions ended his chances of returning to senior football leadership, even after acquittal.