Clifford Chance Paris-based litigation partner Thibaud d’Alès is acting for FIFA presidential hopeful and current head of UEFA Michel Platini in a dispute over a payment Platini received from FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2011.
D’Alès represented Platini last week in front of both the UEFA’s executive committee and the National Association after proceedings were launched against its chief regarding new information surrounding the £1.35m payment.
Following this, the English Football Association (FA) suspended its support for Platini’s presidential candidacy on Friday [16 October].
In a statement the FA said it supported the statement issued by UEFA concerning the ethics case against Platini, in that he is afforded due process in contesting the charges and that any relevant bodies involved reach a final decision on the merits of the case by mid-November.
The magic circle firm has led on a number of recent high profile investigations, including advising the Co-operative Bank as the high street lender avoided a substantial fine following an investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority for breaching listing rules.
Clifford Chance has also won work advising in the Middle East to develop a FIFA World Cup stadium for Qatar’s organising committee, the Supreme Committee for Qatar 2022.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
