Platini launches civil and criminal cases against FIFA and Infantino

Michel Platini, 70, has launched civil and criminal proceedings in French courts against FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, claiming he was blocked from running for FIFA's top job in 2015 through a coordinated effort.

The criminal complaint, filed with Paris courts, accuses Infantino and two former FIFA officials—legal director Marco Villiger and audit committee chair Domenico Scala—of malicious prosecution, influence trafficking, and conspiracy to defame. In a separate civil lawsuit, Platini is seeking financial compensation from FIFA over alleged efforts to obstruct his election as FIFA president.

Platini, who served as UEFA president from 2008 to 2015, was the strong favourite to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA boss following a sprawling corruption scandal that engulfed the governing body in 2015. However, his candidacy was derailed when Swiss prosecutors opened an investigation into a "disloyal payment" of 2 million Swiss francs, approximately $2.5 million, that Blatter had made to him in 2011.

In 2015, Platini was suspended for eight years by FIFA's Ethics Committee over the payment. The suspension was later reduced to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. A criminal case was also opened in Switzerland related to the matter.

The timing of Platini's legal action is notable, coming just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins in North America—the tournament he would have presided over had his candidacy succeeded. The case file has been placed before the chief investigating judge in Paris, who will appoint a magistrate to handle the proceedings.

Platini's allegations extend beyond Infantino. The complaint also names Villiger and Scala as participants in what Platini characterizes as a conspiracy to remove him from contention for the FIFA presidency.