A former UEFA Platini chief arrested in connection with an investigation into the Qatar World Cup, according to a judicial source | Sports

PARIS, June 18 – Michel Platini, former president of the European football federation Uefa, was arrested today by French police for questioning French police over the awarding of the Cup football tournament 2022 in Qatar, a judicial source told Reuters.

Platini's lawyer, William Bourdon, was not immediately available for comment. The detention of the former football star was reported for the first time on a French investigative site Mediapart.

The Office of the French Attorney General of Finance (PNF), specializing in the investigation of economic crimes and corruption, is conducting an investigation into the awarding of the 2022 tournament to the Gulf emirate since 2016. It is studying possible offenses, including private bribery, conspiracy and peddling influence.

The decision to award the World Cup to Qatar in December 2010 surprised many people, given the lack of local audience for the games, the extremely hot summer weather and the poor performance of the team. national level. It will be the first Arab State to host the competition.

The world According to the newspaper, prosecutors were studying in particular a lunch organized by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, nine days before the announcement of the organization of the Cup by Qatar. Platini and the Prime Minister of Qatar at the time, Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad Al Thani, were the guests of the luncheon.

Claude Guéant and Sophie Dion, two of Sarkozy's aides at the time, were also questioned by police today, judicial sources told Reuters. Dion remains detained in Platini, while Gueant was released, the sources said. – Reuters