GENEVA (AP) — FIFA president Gianni Infantino was targeted by a revived criminal complaint in France on Monday by his former boss Michel Platini, who seemed destined to lead FIFA until being implicated in a financial wrongdoing case in 2015.French soccer great Platini — who was acquitted again last year after a second Swiss court trial —has asked lawyers in Paris to file a criminal complaint against Infantino and five other Swiss soccer and prosecution officials. He alleges a conspiracy of false accusation and influence peddling to prevent him from becoming FIFA president a decade ago.Lawyers also will file a civil lawsuit seeking damages from FIFA, a spokesman for Platini said in a statement about the allegations, which were previously made in 2022 directed at Swiss authorities.The fresh filings were announced three days before Infantino opens a World Cup being played across North America that has let him often share a political stage with U.S. President Donald Trump.
FIFA was asked for comment about Platini’s legal complaints.Infantino was elected FIFA leader in 2016 as a surprise candidate from European soccer body UEFA, where he was the long-time general secretary to its president Platini.
