BREAKING: Former UEFA president Michel Platini arrested over fraudulent awarding of 2022 World Cup to Qatar

Ex-UEFA president Michel Platini has been taken into custody following an investigation into the Frenchman over awarding the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar. 

According to Mediapart in France, Platini was arrested on Tuesday morning for allegedly ‘rigging votes’ in the favour of Qatar which helped them land the next FIFA World Cup in 2022. The 63-year old is currently detained in a police station in Nanterre, a suburb in Paris following a showing in front of the Anti-Corruption Office of the Judicial Police (OCLCIFF).

The France legend served as UEFA President for eight years before getting banned in 2015 by the FIFA Ethics Committee for a series of monumental breaches. Platini, who was tipped to replace then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2015, received a £1.35m payment from the footballing body on the orders of Blatter himself. 

Michel Platini was banned for four years, out of which he has served three-and-a-half, whilst continuing to deny any corrupted wrongdoings. His scandal regarding the Qatar World Cup has put the former player in hot water once again.

Qatar won the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup back in 2010, but there have been several accusations regarding the legitimacy of the bid from the Arab country. Allegations of corruption and bribery have surfaced time and again from within FIFA itself. There have also been issues concerned with the suitability of the host country, which was sorted when the World Cup was shifted to November and December in 2022. 

It has also been reported that nearly 4000 migrant workers might die before the commencement of the tournament given the exploitation of their human rights. 

Michel Platini, in his playing days, won the coveted Ballon d’Or award three times and was hailed by many as the finest player of his generation. The former French midfielder had illustrious spells with French club Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Italian giants Juventus.