FIFA to take action to recover $2m from Platini

FIFA is to take legal action by the end of the year to force Michel Platini to return two million Swiss francs ($2 million, 1.84 million euros) he received during Sepp Blatter's reign at world football's governing body.

FIFA banned Platini, its then vice president, in 2015 over the payment he received, sparking years of bitter recriminations from the Frenchman and a falling out with his former ally Blatter.

In a document seen by AFP on Wednesday, FIFA said it would take action "to recover the money illegally paid by the former President of FIFA to the former Vice President of FIFA."

Platini declined to comment but his lawyer, Vincent Solari, called the developement "harassment" of his client.

"It is obviously an announcement whose sole purpose is to continue to try to bring discredit on my client," Solari, who is based in Geneva, said in a statement. FIFA said it planned to sue Blatter at the same time and would be seeking "interest at the appropriate rate" and "disciplinary fines and costs... both ordered but not paid."

FIFA has until December 31 to launch proceedings.

"FIFA is well aware of the statute of limitations in this case," a spokesman for the governing body told AFP.

"We were and still are waiting to know the outcome of the investigations of the Swiss authorities which are ongoing for more than four years.

 

FIFA to take action to recover $2m from Platini

FIFA is to take legal action by the end of the year to force Michel Platini to return two million Swiss francs ($2 million, 1.84 million euros) he received during Sepp Blatters reign at world footballs governing body. FIFA banned Platini, its then vice president, in 2015 over the payment he received, sparking years of bitter recriminations from the Frenchman and a falling out with his former ally Blatter. In a document seen by AFP on Wednesday, FIFA said it would take action to recover the money illegally paid by the former President of FIFA to the former Vice President of FIFA. Platini declined to comment but his lawyer, Vincent Solari, called the developement harassment of his client. It is obviously an announcement whose sole purpose is to continue to try to bring discredit on my client, Solari, who is based in Geneva, said in a statement. FIFA said it planned to sue Blatter at the same time and would be seeking interest at the appropriate rate and disciplinary fines and costs... both ordered but not paid. FIFA has until December 31 to launch proceedings. FIFA is well aware of the statute of limitations in this case, a spokesman for the governing body told AFP. We were and still are waiting to know the outcome of the investigations of the Swiss authorities which are ongoing for more than four years.