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Former UEFA president, Michel Platini, has been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the award of the 2022 World Cup hosting right to Qatar.
Mediapart reports that the 63-year-old French legend, who was arrested Tuesday morning, is currently being held at the premises of the Anti-Corruption Office of the Judicial Police (OCLCIFF).
Platini was elected in 2007 and served as president until 2015 when he was banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee for a series of breaches.
Qatar was named as the hosts of the World Cup in December 2010 but allegations of corruption and bribery within FIFA raised questions over the legitimacy of Qatar’s bid.
Former vice-president Jack Warner claimed an e-mail had been publicised amid allegations Qatar had ‘bought’ the Wold Cup – although the bid team have denied any wrongdoing.
Of the 22-man FIFA executive committee who voted on the host nations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, 10 have been banned or are serving a ban for corruption breaches.
The Frenchman was banned for receiving a £1.35m payment from FIFA on Blatter’s orders and has served three-and-a-half years of a four-year ban.
Details soon…