Blatter and Platini acquitted on charges of defrauding FIFA

BELLINZONA, Switzerland (AP) — Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were acquitted on charges of defrauding FIFA by a Swiss criminal court on Friday, a rare positive outcome for the pair who were among soccer's most powerful figures before being embroiled in corruption investigations.

The case was centred around a $2 million payment from FIFA to Platini with Blatter's approval in 2011, for work done a decade earlier.

The verdict followed an 11-day trial last month at the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland in Bellinzona.

“First of all, I have to say that I'm very happy man,” the 86-year-old Blatter told reporters on the courthouse steps.

“I am a happy man because I also have to express thanks to the court today, to this city, for people in the court, the way they have analysed the situation and they have explained why both of us haven't done anything.”

Swiss prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand had requested a 20-month suspended sentence for both Blatter and Platini.

Instead, both were cleared and were also awarded a sum for costs during the trial, while Blatter also received 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,500) compensation for being morally wronged, the court said.

Blatter and Platini sat quietly at separate tables with their lawyers while the verdict was announced. Later, there was a burst of applause from the small public audience as both men started to walk out of the courtroom, after a brief conversation with each other and an exchange of wry smiles.

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