Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini have been acquitted of corruption charges by a Swiss court.
Criminal proceedings were launched against the couple after a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.7 million) from FIFA to MR Platini was revealed in 2015.
Mr Blatter, 86, was head of FIFA – the world football body – at the time, while Mr Platini, 67, ran UEFA, the governing body for European football.
Speaking after the ruling, Mr Platini said: “I want to express my happiness to all my loved ones that justice has finally been done after seven years of lies and manipulation.”
He added: “My fight is against injustice. I won the first game.”
The payment in question was made in 2011 under what the two men said was a “gentleman’s deal” made in 1998. Prosecutors said this version of events was a “discovery” bright”.
Mr Blatter approved a transfer of funds from FIFA to Mr Platini while campaigning for re-election as head of world football.
Mr. Platini is considered the man who has caused controversy in the European secret ballots.
The US government launched a wide-ranging investigation into bribery, fraud and money laundering at FIFA in 2015, prompting Blatter to resign.
Both he and Mr Platini were banned from football for eight years in 2015, but this was later reduced.
Mr. Platini claimed the investigation was a deliberate plot to prevent him from becoming the head of FIFA.
