Acquittal for Sepp Blatter, acquittal for Michel Platini. You have to do that first as a Swiss prosecutor: From the scandalous 18-year presidency of the Swiss Joseph S. Blatter at the world football association Fifa, you have to bring to court the process in which there was no dirty stuff.
Even Blatter, who is now 86, joked after the verdict was announced: he was certainly not innocent! In this case – a transfer of two million Swiss francs to the functionary spec Platini in 2011 – but he was. Ultimately, the payment was a questionably high, but properly booked consultant’s fee.
Now the case could be dismissed as the next embarrassment in the football investigations by the Bern federal prosecutor. However, the truth is worse. During the process, it became increasingly clear that the investigators allowed themselves to be exploited. In 2015, they frantically pieced together an indictment relating to the Blatter/Platini payment, while in the background the wires burned with the camp of a certain Gianni Infantino. Just in time for the new FIFA elections in 2016, the French Platini was sidelined – and the Swiss Infantino became FIFA President.
Corruption is widespread in sport and largely safeguarded by the autonomy of the associations. It is therefore to be welcomed when state investigators shine a light on this swamp. In the case of Fifa, however, the investigators allowed themselves to be drawn into the swamp. The Swiss judiciary is now itself a case for the judiciary.