FIFA president Infantino subject to criminal complaint before World Cup | Football | Sport

Former UEFA president Michel Platini is pursuing legal action against FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, alleging he and two others plotted against him and wrecked his chances of landing football’s most prestigious role, according to reports. City AM claim Platini’s legal representatives have confirmed they are initiating proceedings in Paris against Infantino and two former FIFA officials, legal director Marco Villiger and audit chair Domenico Scala.

Infantino, Villiger and Scala face accusations of malicious prosecution and influence peddling in relation to an affair that eventually ended Platini’s career in football administration. Platini was the leading candidate to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president until 2015, when Blatter was effectively accused of bribing Platini to secure votes for a fourth term.

Platini and Blatter received bans from FIFA’s ethics committee over the two million Swiss francs “disloyal payment,” but both have subsequently been exonerated by the Swiss courts. The former France captain is also seeking financial compensation from FIFA in Switzerland for what his legal team describe as a deliberate campaign to block his succession of Blatter.

Infantino, who worked as UEFA general secretary under Platini, won the election to replace Blatter in 2016 and has held the position ever since, strengthening his grip on power throughout. The timing of the legal proceedings becoming public will prove deeply embarrassing for Infantino and FIFA just days before the World Cup gets under way in the US, Mexico and Canada on Thursday.

The Express has contacted FIFA regarding the allegations but is yet to receive a response to the latest developments, with Infantino due to face the media on Wednesday ahead of the largest edition of the tournament ever held.

This follows nine months after the acquittal of Platini, now 70, and Blatter, 90, on fraud and forgery charges by a Swiss federal criminal appeals court in September that year.

Since assuming office, Infantino has implemented sweeping reforms to FIFA’s operations and substantially increased its revenue, and last week he topped City AM’s inaugural Football Power List. The news marks the latest controversy in a series of incidents that have overshadowed the build-up to this summer’s World Cup. The United States conflict with Iran has dominated discussion.

Iran threatened to withdraw from the tournament following airstrikes that resulted in the death of their leader Ayatollah Khamenei. With Italy proposed as potential replacements, it was subsequently suggested that Iran’s fixtures could be moved at short notice to Mexico.

Throughout the turmoil, Infantino persistently maintained that Iran would take part and that everything would be resolved, while Trump issued a threatening statement, declaring: “I really don’t believe it ⁠is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.” The US President ultimately gave his lukewarm seal of approval.

In the last few hours, Somalian referee Omar Artan has been refused entry into the United States, while Iranian supporters have had their tickets revoked.