The Swiss Federal Criminal Court on Friday acquitted the former president of the International Football Association (FIFA) Joseph Blatter and the French former president of the European Union (UEFA), Michel Platini, in the case of fraud against FIFA.

Blatter and Platini were tried before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, on charges including fraud against FIFA, in connection with the transfer of two million Swiss francs (two million dollars) to


Platini in 2011, claiming that it was in exchange for consulting work he provided to FIFA between 1998 and 2002.

The prosecution demanded the imposition of a penalty of imprisonment for a period of one year and eight months with a suspended sentence for each of Blatter and Platini, in addition to a fine of Platini two million and 200 thousand Swiss francs, which is equivalent to the transfer amount plus the social security taxes paid by FIFA.

Blatter and Platini maintained their innocence, and Platini said before the verdict that he expected not to be found guilty.

Platini had talked about political motives in the case, as both of them were banned from working in football, which ended his ambition to take over the presidency of FIFA, succeeding Blatter, a position currently held by Gianni Infantino, former UEFA general secretary.