'Surprise, surprise' say fans as Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini cleared of fraud

Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and vice-president Michel Platini have both been cleared of fraud following an 11-day corruption trial at the Federal Criminal Court in Switzerland

Rhys Daly Senior Sports Reporter

10:45, 08 Jul 2022

TOPSHOT - FIFA President Sepp Blatter (Foreground-L) shakes hands with UEFA president Michel Platini after being re-elected following a vote to decide on the FIFA presidency in Zurich on May 29, 2015.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have both been cleared of fraud(Image: Getty Images)

Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and vice-president Michel Platini have both been found not guilty following a fraud trial that concerned a payment of £1.6m made from Blatter to Platini back in 2011.

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The trial went ahead at at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland and lasted 11 days before concluding back on June 22, with the pair insisting that the payment was pre-arranged.

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Arriving at court on Friday (July 8) for the verdict, Blatter told reporters: "I am not innocent in my life but in this case I am innocent."

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At the time of the payment, Blatter, 86, and Platini, 67, were in the roles of head of FIFA and UEFA respectively.

Mr Platini said: "I want to express my happiness for all my loved ones that justice has finally been done after seven years of lies and manipulation. My fight is a fight against injustice. I won a first game."

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With Blatter and Platini both being banned from football for eight years back in 2015, before a reduction in the ban, the latter believes the investigation was a plot to stop him becoming FIFA leader.

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Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, surrounded by journalists, arrives to Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court for listen the verdict of his trial over a suspected fraudulent payment, in the southern Switzerland city of Bellinzona, on July 8, 2022.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrived at Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court on Friday(Image: Getty Images)

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Comedian Simon Brodkin (not pictured) throws dollar bills at FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter during a press conference at the Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee Meeting at the FIFA headquarters on July 20, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Sepp Blatter was banned from football for eight years back in 2015(Image: Getty Images)

Football fans have now given their thoughts on the verdict - with many showing faux shock at the result of the trial.

One fan wrote: "Move along. Nothing to see here."

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With a second adding: "Sepp Blatter acquitted of corruption in Swiss court. Quelle surprise."

Former UEFA president Michel Platini (L) surrounded by journalists, arrives to Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court to listen the verdict of his trial over a suspected fraudulent payment, in the southern Switzerland city of Bellinzona, on July 8, 2022.

Former UEFA president Michel Platini was found not guilty alongside Sepp Blatter(Image: Getty Images)

A third continued: "I really shouldn't be surprised, should I?!"

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And a fourth writing: "Wow what a shock!..."

And a fifth concluding: "No surprise there."

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