Michel Platini will be 70
How France’s football king became a scandal official
Le Roi, the king, the French called the footballer Michel Platini. As a functional, however, he caused negative headlines. How his once good reputation broke.
He is considered one of the best French footballers of all time, became European champion and three times world footballer. As an active athlete of his time, Michel Platini was ahead of his time, his free kick technology – a director with magic foot. Pelé described him as the best European player in the 1980s.
Platini knew how to inspire on the ball, in France he was called “Le Roi”, which means “the king”. However, it was not very royal what followed after his player career. As UEFA president, Platini was mainly faced with scandals and allegations of corruption.
Michel Platini receives dubious millions of FIFA President Blatter
Above all, there would be the ominous payment of over two million francs, which FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter approved in 2011. Platini allegedly received the money as a late fee because he worked as a Blatter’s consultant from 1998 to 2002.
When the deal flogged, both officials lost their offices. In the summer of 2022 they were acquitted, an appeal procedure failed in March 2025. The allegations were fraud and embezzlement – but nothing could be proven to the duo. “My honor has been restored today,” said Platini after the trial.
But that’s not the only case that caused negative headlines over Platini. As early as 2010, shortly after the World Cup awarded to Qatar, accusations of corruption against him. He is said to have contributed significantly to the 2022 World Cup to the desert state. In 2019, the French police briefly took him into custody to ask questions about his role in the award. Platini was released quickly, and this time nothing could be detected.
The entire chronicle of the scandals and allegations against Michel Platini can be found in this photo gallery.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
