Former UEFA chief Michel Platini arrested over alleged corruption in awarding of 2022 World Cup to Qatar

Michel Platini, former UEFA president, and European Championship-winning French football legend was arrested on June 18 in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris, over suspicions of corruption in awarding of 2022 World Cup to Qatar. former French captain was elected as President of UEFA in 2007, following which he was banned by FIFA Ethics Committee in 2015. 

Platini was reportedly taken to Anti-Corruption Office of Judicial Police premises over allegations of corruption that have been making  rounds ever since Qatar was awarded opportunity to host FIFA 2022 World Cup, according to media reports.

Platini and Sepp Blatter,  former FIFA president who was president of football’s world governing body when Russia and Qatar won ir respective World Cup hosting rights, were both cleared of corruption charges in 2015, but were found guilty of a series of regulation breaches that included conflict of interest and dereliction of duty when a 2 million Swiss francs “disloyal payment” from Blatter to Platini in 2011 was discovered. Both were handed long bans from all football-related activities.

Many have voiced ir concerns including over human rights and status of homosexuality, among or reasons, over decision to select Arab nation to host cup.

In 2014, Platini admitted to holding a secret meeting with disgraced football official Mohamed Bin Hammam, shortly before casting his vote for Qatar.

READ | Xiaomi Starts Selling Mi LED Smart Bulb In India

A source close to former UEFA chief at time said that Platini said he had met Qatar football official for breakfast in a hotel in Switzerland, just a few days before controversial decision was made, according to media reports. 

It was furr alleged that  two men had met 30 to 50 times, as both sat on decision-making committee for FIFA. 

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's adviser Claude Guéant was also taken into questioning for his alleged involvement. 

READ | Ronaldo served with papers in US rape lawsuit