Platini released after 15 hours of interrogation
The former UEFA President and his lawyer left the interrogation room at around 1am on June 19, Paris time.
APMichel Platini was released and left the Office for Combating Corruption, Financial Crime & Taxation (OCLCIFF) in Nanterre, Paris after about 15 hours of questioning, according to reports.
"They asked many questions related to previous events such as Euro 2016, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and FIFA," Platini said shortly after being released. Accompanying the former UEFA president was his lawyer, William Bourdon.
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Platini (right) leaves the interrogation room with his lawyer. Photo:AFP. |
Bourdon defended Platini, saying: "Platini is not in custody." The lawyer reaffirmed that the past 15 hours of questioning were only to serve the investigation into corruption issues in football. Bourdon emphasized: "Platini calmly answered all questions correctly. He did nothing wrong and is not involved in these scandals."
French authorities have not announced any charges against Platini. The questioning is the latest action by the anti-corruption agency in its investigation into a series of major sporting bids, including the 2018 World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Two assistants to former President Nicolas Sarkozy, former Sports Advisor Sophie Dion and former Secretary General of the Presidential Palace Claude Gueant, were both released on the night of June 19.
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Platini called his relatives before getting in the car to leave Nanterre. Photo:AFP. |
Earlier, on Tuesday morning, June 18, Platini was summoned and detained by the authorities at the OCLCIFF in Nanterres, west of Paris. The decision to detain Platini was part of an investigation into allegations of bribery during Qatar's bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
BBCsaid that French officials want to clarify the connection between Platini and former President Sarkozy, in winning the right to host Euro 2016 for France and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The reason is that in November 2010, two weeks before the vote to choose the host of the 2022 World Cup took place, former French President Sarkozy organized a meeting and lunch between Platini and the Prince of Qatar in the capital Paris.
FIFA confirmed many questions raised by French police about recent major tournaments, but declined to comment on the case.
Platini, 63, is a French football legend. He won Euro 1984 and is the only player to win the Ballon d'Or three years in a row. He became UEFA President in 2007 and held the position until 2015, before being banned from football for six years by FIFA's Ethics Committee for a series of violations. The ban was reduced to four years after Platini appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
