Michel Platini files new complaint against Gianni Infantino for influence peddling and malicious denunciation
via SeneNews2 min read
Michel Platini has filed a complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino for "malicious denunciation" and "influence peddling," according to a statement. This action, which also targets two former FIFA officials, includes a civil party constitution, which will lead to the appointment of an investigating judge. Platini had previously filed two complaints in 2018 and 2021 concerning the same matter; the first was deemed time-barred, and the second was dismissed last October. The former football star will also initiate civil proceedings against the global football body to seek compensation for damages related to "maneuvers used to prevent him from being elected FIFA president in 2015." Platini believes that Infantino, his former number two at UEFA, along with former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger and former chairman of its audit committee Domenico Scala, "worked to remove him from the presidential race" through "totally unfounded accusations." The revelation in autumn 2015 of a payment of two million Swiss francs made to Platini by FIFA four years earlier led to disciplinary and criminal proceedings, just as he was well-positioned to lead FIFA. Platini's removal paved the way for the unexpected election of his UEFA secretary general, Gianni Infantino, in February 2016. Infantino was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023 and will seek another term next March.
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Must ReadFormer Senegalese President Macky Sall has expressed his vision for a reformed and integrated United Nations, emphasizing the crucial involvement of member states and the integration of artificial intelligence. If elected Secretary-General, Sall aims to leave behind a UN that is more confident, effective, and deeply reformed, having successfully undergone digital transformation and fully leveraged artificial intelligence. He also seeks reform at both the Secretariat and member state levels. This digital ambition is a key aspect of his candidacy, presented by Burundi on behalf of the African Union, positioning him as a candidate for technological renewal. Sall advocates for a more systemic integration of artificial intelligence to streamline Secretariat activities, improve threat analysis for peace, and reduce waste in peacekeeping operations. He stresses that no transformation can rely solely on the Secretariat's will, highlighting that reforms will remain timid without the commitment of member states. Sall has consistently presented himself as a "bridge-builder," aiming to unite an organization facing multiple crises, including geopolitical rivalries, armed conflicts, climate emergencies, and economic fragilities. He seeks to convince capitals, which hold the true power of reform, to fully engage in rebuilding multilateralism.
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Must ReadThe German Football Federation DFB is set to officially announce J眉rgen Klopp as the new coach of the German national team on Friday. The DFB has scheduled a press conference for Friday morning at its headquarters in Frankfurt, without specifying the agenda. According to SID, a German subsidiary of AFP specializing in sports, only final validation by the federation's authorities is pending. Klopp, 59, former coach of Mainz, Dortmund, and Liverpool, is expected to sign a contract until 2030, the end of the next World Cup cycle. Under contract with Red Bull since early 2025, Klopp is reportedly being released without a transfer fee, but in exchange for a one-million-euro donation to Red Bull's Wings for Life foundation, dedicated to spinal cord injury research. Klopp was the preferred candidate for the DFB to succeed Julian Nagelsmann after Germany's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. Klopp left Liverpool in June 2024 after nine seasons, during which he won the English championship in 2020 and the Champions League a year prior. Germany has experienced three World Cup setbacks since winning its fourth title in 2014, with first-round eliminations in 2018 and 2022, and a round of 16 exit in late June.