FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been named in a criminal complaint filed by former UEFA president Michel Platini just days before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The complaint has been submitted in French courts and is linked to the long-running controversy that ended Platini's hopes of becoming FIFA president nearly a decade ago.
The development comes at a sensitive time for world football, with the World Cup set to begin in two days. Platini, one of the greatest footballers of his generation, believes that actions taken during the corruption investigations at FIFA were aimed at preventing him from contesting the FIFA presidential election. The complaint names Infantino among several individuals allegedly involved in the matter.
Michel Platini targets Gianni Infantino over FIFA Presidency saga
Michel Platini, now 70, was widely expected to replace former FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2016. At the time, he was one of the most influential figures in football and had strong support across Europe. However, his presidential ambitions suffered a major setback after FIFA opened an ethics investigation into a payment he received from Blatter in 2011.
The payment, worth two million Swiss francs, became the focus of disciplinary and criminal investigations. FIFA's ethics committee suspended Platini for eight years in 2015. The punishment was later reduced to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Despite the sanctions, Platini consistently argued that the money was legitimate compensation for advisory work he carried out for Blatter between 1998 and 2002. His position was later supported in court. Both Platini and Blatter were cleared by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in 2022. Their acquittals were also upheld by an appeals court in 2025.
Now, Platini has decided to take legal action in France. According to his lawyer Olivier Baratelli, the complaint argues that several individuals worked behind the scenes to block Platini from becoming FIFA president. The filing claims that Infantino played a leading role in efforts that allegedly pushed Platini out of the race.
The timing of the complaint has drawn attention across the football world. Platini's suspension from football governance ultimately opened the door for Infantino, who was serving as UEFA general secretary under Platini, to win the FIFA presidency in 2016.
FIFA has not yet publicly responded to the allegations. The organization has been approached for comment following confirmation of the complaint.
The case is likely to generate significant discussion as football prepares for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. Whether the complaint leads to further legal proceedings remains to be seen, but it has once again brought one of football's most controversial political battles back into the spotlight.
