Michel Platini Arrested On Alleged Corruption Charges

By Max Wise

Former president of the Union of European Football Association(UEFA), Michel Platini, has been arrested on alleged corruption charges into the awarding of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar.

The 63-year-old former France national team captain was picked up by French police in Paris on early Tuesday morning to assist in investigations.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup was controversially awarded to Qatar in 2010 after holding off the challenges of the United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan to emerge winners.

The Anti-Corruption Office of the Judicial Police are investigating alleged rigging of votes in Qatar’s favour.

Platini succeeded the late Lennart Johansson as UEFA President in January 2007 and held the role until 2015 before he was banned for six years from football activities by FIFA’s Ethics Committee for receiving a “disloyal payment” of £1.6m from then FIFA President, Sepp Blatter.

Platini’s ban was reduced to four years following an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sports. The ban will expire in October this year.

Platini, who as a player, won the Ballon d’or on three occasions, was part of the France 1998 World Cup Organising Committee and also served on the FIFA executive committee from 2002 until he received his ban.

Platini becomes the latest high-profile football official to be arrested in France after Confederation of African Football(CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad was earlier this month picked up by French police in Paris over allegations of bribery, corruption and misappropriation of funds.