Michel Platini has spoken candidly about his decade-long battle to clear his name after being banned from football over an alleged unlawful payment. The former Uefa president maintains he would have become Fifa president if not for the scandal, which he describes as a political plot to stop him.
Platini was banned in 2015 after a £1.35m payment from then-Fifa president Sepp Blatter came to light. Both men were acquitted by a Swiss appeals court last year. 'A group of people decided to kill me,' Platini said, though he did not name those responsible.
The 70-year-old believes his downfall was orchestrated because he threatened the status quo. 'This administration, people who I did not know, didn't want a different president,' he said. He does not accuse Gianni Infantino, who succeeded Blatter as Fifa president, of being among the instigators, but said Infantino 'profited from the situation'.
Platini criticised Infantino's leadership, saying he 'likes the rich and powerful' and has become 'more of an autocrat'. He contrasted this with Blatter's era, which he said had more democracy. Platini described football governance as 'big business' and said the sport had moved on from his time in charge.
Despite the ordeal, Platini said he always knew he would be cleared. 'I was never preoccupied about the final decision because I knew I was not guilty.'
