UPDATE: Michel Platini detained for 15 hrs in Paris over Qatar 2022 investigation

Anca Alexe 18/06/2019 | 13:04

Former UEFA president and French football legend Michel Platini (63) was detained for 15 hours in Paris on Tuesday on corruption allegations in a case related to FIFA’s decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to French news outlet mediapart.fr.

UPDATE: Platini was questioned for 15 hours before being released on Wednesday morning.

The investigation was opened two years ago and looks into private corruption, criminal association, influence peddling and benefiting from influence peddling.

Platini has publicly stated that he met with Sarkozy and Tamim Al-Thani, the current emir of Qatar, at the Elysee Palace in November 2010, only a month before the FIFA decision, according to The Guardian. He also suggested that the French president wanted him to use his position at UEFA to favour Qatar to be the host of the 2022 World Cup, as Sarkozy was seeking major trade contracts with the Middle Eastern country. After the decision, Qatar Airways ordered 50 Airbus aircraft, while QSI bought and invested in football club Paris Saint Germain.

In the same case, French authorities have also questioned former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former secretary general of the Elysee Palace, Claude Gueant. Both Platini and Blatter have been banned from football after a EUR 1.5 million “disloyal payment” was discovered from Blatter to Platini.

 

BR Magazine | Latest Issue

Download PDF: Business Review Magazine March (II) 2024 Issue

The March (II) 2024 issue of Business Review Magazine is now available in digital format, featuring the main cover story titled “BAT DBS Romania Hub: A Vibrant New Office For An Employee-Centric
Anca Alexe | 27/03/2024 | 17:32
Advertisement Advertisement
Close ×

We use cookies for keeping our website reliable and secure, personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used.

Accept & continue