The former heads of World and European football Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been cleared of corruption charges following a month-long trial in Switzerland.

The pair were both found not guilty of fraud despite a seven-year investigation by Swiss authorities.

Vindication for Blatter

An 86-year-old Blatter was jubilant as he addressed reporters outside the court in the Swiss town of Bellinzona.

This verdict is a vindication of his belief that he was wrongly forced out of his job as president of world football's governing body Fifa back in 2015.

"Now it's over, this is the last stage. It is the decision of the court, and this decision, as we have said from the beginning; nobody is accused [guilty], not Platini, not me. Therefore we are free. Sure, I am innocent in this case. I am not innocent in my life, but in this case, I am innocent." he told the waiting media.

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Michel Platini, a former French football team captain and manager, was also acquitted of fraud. The two, once among the most powerful figures in global soccer, had denied all the charges against them.

Seven-year investigation

The 'not guilty' verdicts come after a seven-year investigation by Swiss authorities.  

The prosecutors had accused Blatter of unlawfully arranging for FIFA to pay Platini $2.06 million back in 2011.

At the time Blatter was campaigning to be re-elected as FIFA President. Platini was then the Head of European football governing body UEFA and was thought to hold influence with European FIFA members ahead of the vote.

However, Blatter told the Swiss court the payment was part of a 'gentlemen's agreement' between the two, when Platini worked as Blatter's technical adviser between 1998 and 2002.

However, when news of the payments came to light in 2015 it effectively ended both men’s careers in football.

Fight not over for Platini

Platini said his battle for justice wasn't over. 

"My fight is a fight against injustice, and I won the first game. In this case, some culprits did not appear during this trial. Let them count on me – we will meet again. I will not give up and I will go all the way in my quest for truth. Believe me, going from being a legend of world soccer to a devil is very difficult especially when it comes to you in an unfair way."

The verdicts are also a huge blow for FIFA as the organisation looked to draw a line under the Blatter era, which was perceived as blighted by corruption.

Whether this verdict will change that perception in the eyes of the public remains to be seen.

Cover photo: Former UEFA President Michel Platini gestures in front of the media members after  the trial at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland. Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann