Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been acquitted of corruption by a court in Switzerland.

The former presidents of FIFA and UEFA were charged after the payment of just over €2m (two million Swiss Francs) from FIFA to Mr Platini was uncovered in 2015.

At the time, Mr Blatter was head of FIFA and Mr Platini was head of UEFA.

Speaking after the verdict was announced, Mr Platini said: “I want to express my happiness for all my loved ones that justice has finally been done after seven years of lies and manipulation.”

He added: “My fight is a fight against injustice. I won a first game.”

Payment

The payment was made in 2011 following what the two men claimed was a “gentleman’s agreement” made in 1998.

It was claimed that, while a technical director for FIFA between 1998 and 2002, Mr Platini was paid 300,000 Swiss francs (£118,000 at the time) per year.

He could not be given more due to financial troubles at FIFA, so tit was agreed he rest of the one million francs (£400,000) salary would be handed over at a later date.

Prosecutors said this version of events was an "invention".

Campaign

Mr Blatter approved the payment while he was campaigning to be re-elected as FIFA president.

Mr Platini was seen to hold sway over the European caucus of votes.

Mr Blatter stepped down from his role as head of FIFA after the US government launched a wide-ranging investigation into bribery, fraud and money laundering at the organisation.

Mr Platini claimed the investigation was a deliberate plot to prevent him taking on the role.

With reporting from IRN.