Platini detained in Qatar World Cup investigation

PARIS, June 18 

Michel Platini, the former head of European football association UEFA, was detained for questioning by French police today over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Platini’s lawyer, William Bourdon, said his client was innocent of all charges and that he was being questioned on “technical grounds.” 

France’s national financial prosecutor’s office, which specialises in investigating economic crimes and corruption, has been leading a probe into the awarding of the 2022 tournament to the Gulf emirate since 2016. It is looking into possible offences including private corruption, conspiracy and influence peddling. — Reuters