France detains soccer great Platini in 2022 World Cup probe

France detains soccer great Platini in 2022 World Cup probe

1/5 | On June 18, 2019 (Tuesday), a police officer guarding the judicial police corruption countermeasure room in Nadel, a suburb of Paris. Former Michelle Platini, former UEFA, was arrested on Tuesday that he was arrested in a corruption investigation on the World Cup award in Qatar in 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

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2/5 ｜ Tuesday, June 18, 2019, journalists working outside the Judicial Police Corruption Measures Office in Nantale, a suburb of Paris. Former Michelle Platini, former UEFA, was arrested on Tuesday that he was arrested in a corruption investigation on the World Cup award in Qatar in 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

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3/5 ｜ On Tuesday, June 18, 2019, Michel Pratini's lawyer William Burdon makes a phone call outside the ant i-correspondence office of the Police Judicial Department on the outskirts of Paris. Former Michel Pratini UEFA was arrested as part of a corruption investigation on voting for voting, which was awarded the World Cup in the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, and claimed to be innocent on Tuesday police interrogation. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

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4 OF 5 | Fil e-February 22, 2014, UEFA EURO 2016 President Michel Pratini, chairman of the day before the UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying lottery held in Nice, southeastern France. Former Michel Pratini UEFA was arrested for the World Cup in 2022 on June 18, 2019 (Tue).

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5 OF 5 ｜ Fil e-This is a File photo on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, is the chairman of UEFA Michel Pratini, which covers his face, at a press conference after the 39th UEFA Normal Congress held in Vienna, Austria. On Tuesday, June 18, 2019, UEFA's former chairman Michel Pratini (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, File Photo) arrested at the 2022 World Cup award ceremony.

read more France arrested a soccer master Pratini in the 2022 World Cup investigation

1/5 | On June 18, 2019 (Tuesday), a police officer guarding the judicial police corruption countermeasure room in Nadel, a suburb of Paris. Former Michelle Platini, former UEFA, was arrested on Tuesday that he was arrested in a corruption investigation on the World Cup award in Qatar in 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

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On Tuesday, June 18, 2019, a police officer guards the Judicial Police Rotal Reproduction Agency in Nantale, a suburb of Paris. Former UEFA Chairman Michel Pratini was arrested on Tuesday that it was arrested in 2022 in a corruption investigation over the invitation of the World Cup to Qatar. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

share share copy Copy link read more 2/5 | Nantel on the outskirts of Paris.

On September 18, 2019, journalists worked outside the ant i-corrupt offices of the judicial police in Nantaire on the outskirts of Paris. UEFA's former chairman Michel Pratini was arrested in a corruption case over the 2022 World Cup invitation. Judicial officials said on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

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On September 18, 2019, journalists worked outside the ant i-corrupt offices of the judicial police in Nantaire on the outskirts of Paris. UEFA's former chairman Michel Pratini was arrested in a corruption case over the 2022 World Cup invitation. Judicial officials said on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

share share copy Copy link read more 3/5 ｜ “Diana Nature” ｜ “Diana Natura” ｜ “Diana Natura”

On June 18, 2019 (Tuesday), Michel Pratini's lawyer William Burdon makes a phone call outside the Judicial Police Corruption Room in Nantale, Paris. Former Michel Pratini, former chairman of the Michel Pratini, was arrested as part of a corruption investigation on voting for voting for the World Cup in 2022, and appealed to the police on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

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On June 18, 2019 (Tuesday), Michel Pratini's lawyer William Burdon makes a phone call outside the Judicial Police Corruption Room in Nantale, Paris. Former Michel Pratini, former chairman of the Michel Pratini, was arrested as part of a corruption investigation on voting for voting for the World Cup in 2022, and appealed to the police on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Christophe ENA)

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File-February 22, 2014, the day before the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying held in Nice southeast of France, Mr. Michel Pratini of UEFA, chairman of a press conference. Former UEFA, former chairman of Michel Pratini, was arrested on June 18, 2019 (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File Photo) over the 2022 World Cup.

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File-February 22, 2014, the day before the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying held in Nice southeast of France, Mr. Michel Pratini of UEFA, chairman of a press conference. Former UEFA, former chairman of Michel Pratini, was arrested on June 18, 2019 (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File Photo) over the 2022 World Cup.

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Archive - In this Tuesday, March 24, 2015, UEFA file photo, UEFA President Michel Platini covers his face during a press conference following the conclusion of the 39th UEFA Ordinary Congress in Vienna, Austria. Former UEFA President Michel Platini, arrested Tuesday, June 18, 2019, over the award of the 2022 World Cup (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, file photo).

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Archive - In this Tuesday, March 24, 2015, UEFA file photo, UEFA President Michel Platini covers his face during a press conference following the conclusion of the 39th UEFA Ordinary Congress in Vienna, Austria. Former UEFA President Michel Platini, arrested Tuesday, June 18, 2019, over the award of the 2022 World Cup (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, file photo).

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PARIS (AP) - French police investigating whether corruption played a role in the surprising decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar detained and questioned 1980s soccer superstar and former top official Michel Platini on Tuesday.

Platini's representative denied any wrongdoing on his part, saying he was "absolutely confident about the future" and that "there is strictly nothing to blame ourselves for."

They also questioned two former associates of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was accused of cancelling the soccer extravaganza in June. It added a layer of political intrigue to the investigation into the highly controversial decision to host the tournament in the hot desert country in July and instead play the will matches in November and December.

Platini, the head of European Football Association (UEFA), was the continent's representative on the FIFA committee that chose Qatar in 2010.

The closed, secret ballot disappointed many at the time because the Persian Gulf nation has no football pedigree. But gas-rich Qatar has the means to pump billions of dollars into the world's most popular sport and fund new stadiums.

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The 6 3-yea r-old Platini was restrained after being called by the French police, which cracks down on corruption and financial crime on the outskirts of Paris. The stakeholders had no authority to talk about the investigation and said anonymously.

French authorities did not announce any charges of legendary soccer players, and did not reveal what they were asking for. He may be detained for up to 48 hours and be released or officially charged.

In recent years, dozens of soccer officials from FIFA and other organizations have been arrested for crimes such as acquisitions, kickbacks, and bribery.

The French prosecutor is known for investigating a series of major sporting events, such as the 2018 World Cup, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the World Athletics Championships.

When FIFA decided to be hosted by the World Cup in 2022, Qatar defeated the United States 14 to 8.

Former FIFA chairman Zep Blatter, chairman of the voting, accused Pratini's secret, a gentleman agreement, after a meeting with Sarcoji, the then French President, and then Pratini to award the United States.

Pratini's agent said that he was detained only for "technical reasons." Mr. William Burdon, a lawyer, explained that the police wanted Pratini and other witnesses to not discuss each other's testimony.

A former sports advisor of the Sarkoji administration, Sophie Dion, was also arrested on Tuesday. She was released late at night. Claude Gean, the former secretar y-general of the Presidential Office Elise Palace under the Sarkoji administration, was interrogated as a witness, but was not detained. The French prosecutor has previously interrogated Blutter.

In November 2010, before the FIFA voting, Sarkoji sponsored a meeting with Platini and the successor to Qatar at the time, and now the ruler of the country, Tamim Bin Hamad Al Tani. Al Tani is the owner of the French soccer team, Paris Sain t-Germain, and Sarkoji often watchs the game.

Platini has long been argued that the talks did not affect the voting to Qatar in less than two weeks. < SPAN> 6 3-yea r-old Platini was detained after being called by the French police, which cracks down on corruption and financial crimes on the outskirts of Paris. The stakeholders had no authority to talk about the investigation and said anonymously.

French authorities did not announce any charges of legendary soccer players, and did not reveal what they were asking for. He may be detained for up to 48 hours and be released or officially charged.

In recent years, dozens of soccer officials from FIFA and other organizations have been arrested for crimes such as acquisitions, kickbacks, and bribery.

The French prosecutor is known for investigating a series of major sporting events, such as the 2018 World Cup, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the World Athletics Championships.

When FIFA decided to be hosted by the World Cup in 2022, Qatar defeated the United States 14 to 8.

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Former FIFA chairman Zep Blatter, chairman of the voting, accused Pratini's secret, a gentleman agreement, after a meeting with Sarcoji, the then French President, and then Pratini to award the United States.

___

Pratini's agent said that he was detained only for "technical reasons." Mr. William Burdon, a lawyer, explained that the police wanted Pratini and other witnesses to not discuss each other's testimony.