The battle between two of the most influential figures in international football added a new chapter. Michel Platini, French football legend and former UEFA president, filed a complaint in France against Gianni Infantino, current FIFA president, for alleged crimes related to influence peddling and false complaints.

The judicial action was presented on Monday to the French authorities and is already in the hands of the coordinator of the investigating judges of Paris, which will lead to the appointment of a magistrate in charge of investigating the case.

Platini accuses Infantino of an alleged plot within FIFA

According to the complaint, Michel Platini considers that Gianni Infantino, who was one of his main collaborators during his management at UEFA, would have participated in a strategy to prevent him from becoming president of FIFA in the 2015 elections.

The former French star maintains that his exit from the race for the top position in world football was no coincidence and points directly to those who were part of the power structure of the international organization.

He also demands million-dollar compensation from FIFA

In addition to the criminal proceedings, Platini initiated civil proceedings “for liability against FIFA” before a court in Marseille.

The former leader is seeking financial compensation based on the income that, according to his position, he would have received if he had become president of world football's governing body.

The lawsuit represents a new legal front for FIFA, which is once again facing questions related to some of the most controversial episodes in its recent history.

The investigation that stopped Platini's candidacy

Michel Platini's run for the FIFA presidency was abruptly interrupted after the body deemed he had breached its code of ethics.

The former soccer player was accused of having received 2 million Swiss francs from the then president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, a situation that led to a long judicial and disciplinary process.

As a consequence, Platini was left out of the electoral race and Gianni Infantino ended up becoming the top leader of world football.

Swiss Justice acquitted Platini in 2025

One of the central arguments of the former French leader's new judicial offensive is that the cause that removed him from the presidential race ended up collapsing in the courts.

In March 2025, the Swiss Justice definitively acquitted Michel Platini in the case of alleged corruption that marked his leadership career and conditioned his future at FIFA.

That resolution strengthened the position of the former UEFA president, who now seeks to clarify the circumstances surrounding his exclusion from the electoral process.

Other former FIFA officials were also named

The complaint filed by Platini not only involves Gianni Infantino. It also includes Marco Villiger, former director of FIFA's legal services, and Domenico Scala.

The former French footballer accuses them of having contributed to his fall within the structure of international football and of being part of the actions that, according to him, ended up keeping him away from the possibility of becoming president of FIFA.

With this new legal battle, one of the most controversial disputes in recent football history once again takes center stage and could have important repercussions for world leadership.