Difficult to find more beautiful symbolism for Michel Platini.
Forty years after the legendary defeat in the semi-finals of the 1982 World Cup against Germany during a Seville night that still makes the most nostalgic cry, the former number 10 of the Blues obtained a resounding victory on Friday on another playing field. The less sexy but equally important one of the courts.
After more than six years of investigation and two weeks of trial, "
Platoche
", 67, and Sepp Blatter, 86, respectively former presidents of UEFA and FIFA, have been acquitted by Swiss justice in the alleged case. of scam.
A file in which the Frenchman was suspected of having "
illegally obtained, at the expense of Fifa, a payment of 2 million Swiss francs
" (1.8 million euros).
And a soap opera that precipitated his fall in worldview, he who was promised the coveted position of boss of world football in 2015. For shattered ambitions.
An unfinished dream.
Michel Platini FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP
“
Of course it's a beautiful day, but I can't tell you that it's one of the most beautiful of my life because it's just confirmation of what I've been saying for seven years,
planted Michel Platini, very offensive throughout the trial but also when commenting on the decision of the Federal Criminal Court of Bellinzona
.
All that for that... It's good that the truth finally explodes after so many manipulations, lies and injustice.
I told you I was an honest guy, you had to believe me.
»
Platini wants Infantino more than ever
Read alsoPlatini-Blatter: angry beasts, but not irreconcilable
Platini pure juice in the verb and the attitude, which did not hesitate to distil some "
platocheries
" in front of a crowd of microphones eager to collect its first words.
A real media spectacle and a lyrical way for the native of Joeuf (Meurthe-et-Moselle) to relieve the pressure after an interminable procedure and attacks as numerous as they are painful.
“
The FIFA committees and the CAS
(court of arbitration for sport)
did not believe me, while a real court believed me today.
The justice of those who are not in football saves me from the justice of football, when I have devoted my whole life to this sport.
That's what hurts.
»
Michel Platini FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP
If the prosecution had requested in mid-June, a year and eight months in prison suspended for the two leaders, the triple Ballon d'Or (1983-1984-1985) believes that he "
won a first fight
" while doing once again allusion to a politico-judicial manipulation intended to remove him from power.
“
In this case, there are culprits who did not appear during this trial.
Let them count on me, we will meet again.
»
Manly and very strong tackle against Gianni Infantino, current president of FIFA but above all former right arm of Platini at UEFA, whom he suspects of having played an occult role.
Since 2020, the latter has been the subject of a separate procedure for three secret meetings with the former head of the Swiss prosecution.
"
Yes, it's a plot, and it's not easy to come face to face with these people with their lobbyists and their millions,
" continues the Frenchman, who has a visceral hatred for the current boss of world football.
You defend yourself as best you can.
I'm tired, the Platinis are tired, it's hard what we've been through.
»
Read alsoBattiston, Giresse, Rocheteau … What became of the Blues of the 1982 World Cup?
At the end of a trial which ultimately washed the honor of the former player of Saint-Etienne and Juventus, with a court deeming the story of the two accused plausible, and considering that the scam was not "
not established with a likelihood bordering on certainty
", a doubt remains as to the possible appeal of the Swiss public prosecutor or Fifa.
At time T, the case is not yet definitively over.
On this point, Platini wants to be confident.
“
They will do what they want, but me, in their place, after what they got in the face today, I would not make the return match.
»
Even your offensive tone about Gianni Infantino.
"
I can just say that I won't let anything pass, it's not over.
In France, I filed a complaint
(against the president of Fifa for "
active influence peddling
")
to find out exactly who manipulated everything, we're going to start having fun
.
“And on a possible return to the world of football?
“
I don't know.
I'm so young, I still have more hair than Infantino.
I still have many years ahead of me.
We'll see.
Forty years after the painful memory of 1982, Michel Platini is still roaring.
More than ever.
