Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, were acquitted by a Swiss court following a trial over a suspected fraudulent payment.

Blatter and Platini were being tried over a $2 million payment in 2011 to the former France captain, who by that time was in charge of European football's governing body UEFA.

Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court in the southern city of Bellinzona rejected the prosecution's request for a suspended prison sentence of a year and eight months.

Blatter and Platini maintained their innocence throughout their trial.