The French football icon has reportedly filed both criminal and civil proceedings in France, accusing Infantino and former FIFA officials of playing a role in blocking his path to the FIFA presidency during the turbulent 2015 election saga.
According to reports from multiple international outlets, Platini alleges that false accusations and internal manoeuvres within FIFA were used to derail his expected rise to the top position in world football governance.
The dispute traces back to the infamous 2015 investigation surrounding a payment of two million Swiss francs made to Platini by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter. The payment, linked to consultancy work carried out years earlier, became the centre of ethics investigations that ultimately suspended both Blatter and Platini from football activities.
At the time, Platini was widely viewed as the favourite to succeed Blatter as FIFA president. However, the suspension forced him out of the race, opening the door for Infantino — then UEFA secretary general and once considered one of Platini’s closest allies — to win the FIFA presidency in 2016.
In the latest legal filing, Platini reportedly accuses Infantino, former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger, and former FIFA audit committee chairman Domenico Scala of influence peddling and orchestrating actions aimed at damaging his reputation and preventing his election victory.
The case has gained major attention globally because Platini and Blatter were both acquitted by Swiss courts in previous fraud proceedings linked to the same payment controversy. Reports indicate the acquittals became final after years of legal battles, strengthening Platini’s claim that he was unfairly removed from football leadership.
Platini’s legal team is now seeking financial compensation from FIFA while also demanding investigations into what they describe as a coordinated effort to eliminate him from the FIFA presidential race.
The renewed legal war places FIFA under intense scrutiny ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with global football governance once again facing questions over transparency, internal politics, and power struggles at the highest level of the sport.
As of now, FIFA has not issued a detailed public response to the latest complaint. However, the controversy is expected to dominate discussions around football leadership in the coming weeks as the world prepares for another historic FIFA tournament.