BREAKING: Ex-UEFA president, Michel Platini, arrested
Former UEFA president, Michel Platini, has been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the award of the 2022 World Cup hosting right to Qatar.
Mediapart reports that the 63-year-old French legend, who was arrested Tuesday morning, is currently being held at the premises of the Anti-Corruption Office of the Judicial Police (OCLCIFF).
Platini was elected in 2007 and served as president until 2015 when he was banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee for a se
Qatar was named as the hosts of the World Cup in December 2010 but allegations of corruption and bribery within FIFA raised questions over the legitimacy of Qatar’s bid.
Former vice-president Jack Warner claimed an e-mail had been publicised amid allegations Qatar had ‘bought’ the Wold Cup – although the bid team have denied any wrongdoing.
Each nation votes on the host nation for the World Cup with Platini at the head of European football when Qatar was awarded the 2022 tournament.
Of the 22-man FIFA executive committee who voted on the host nations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, 10 have been banned or are serving a ban for corruption breaches.
It was announced in 2015 that the tournament would be moved to the winter for the first time due to the searing heat of the Gulf summer.
There have also been issues regarding migrant workers’ rights in Qatar with estimates that up to 4,000 may die before the start of the tournament.
The Frenchman was banned for receiving a £1.35m payment from FIFA on Blatter’s orders and has served three-and-a-half years of a four-year ban.
