Michel Platini has filed a lawsuit against FIFA President Gianni Infantino for "influence peddling" and "defamation." The former UEFA boss is also targeting two former FIFA officials: Marco Villiger, the organization's former legal director, and Domenico Scala, former chairman of its audit committee. The lawsuit includes a request to be recognized as a civil party in the proceedings. This action should lead to the appointment of an investigating judge. For Michel Platini, this represents a new legal development in the case that abruptly ended his bid for the FIFA presidency in 2015.
A renewed legal offensive
Michel Platini had already initiated two legal proceedings in this case. In 2018, he filed a simple complaint for "malicious denunciation" against persons unknown. In 2021, he filed another complaint against Gianni Infantino for "influence peddling." Both complaints were forwarded to the Swiss courts. The first was deemed time-barred. The second was dismissed last October. This time, the former number 10 of the French national team is taking a more serious approach, filing a civil suit to push for a formal investigation.
Platini demands reparations from FIFA
Meanwhile, Michel Platini intends to launch a civil lawsuit against FIFA. He seeks compensation for the damages he believes he suffered after being excluded from the race for the presidency of the world governing body. He claims to have been the victim of maneuvers designed to prevent him from being elected FIFA president in 2015. According to him, Gianni Infantino, then his deputy at UEFA, Marco Villiger, and Domenico Scala worked to eliminate him through accusations he considers unfounded.
The case of the payment of two million Swiss francs
The case dates back to the fall of 2015. At that time, the revelation of a payment of two million Swiss francs, or approximately 1,8 million euros, made by FIFA to Michel Platini four years earlier triggered a series of disciplinary and then criminal proceedings. At that point, Platini appeared to be one of the favorites to succeed Sepp Blatter as head of FIFA. The affair derailed his career. Sidelined, he was unable to run for the position. In February 2016, Gianni Infantino, then UEFA's general secretary, was finally elected FIFA president. He was subsequently re-elected in 2019 and again in 2023.
"I'm not going to let go of the people who have hurt me."
Michel Platini had warned that he would continue his legal battle. He believes his sporting and institutional downfall was caused by unjustified accusations. The criminal case related to the controversial payment concluded with his final acquittal in Switzerland in August 2025. For the former captain of the French national team, this acquittal does not close the case: he now wants to establish the responsibilities he attributes to Gianni Infantino and former FIFA officials.
