Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA boss Michel Platini have both been charged with fraud and other offenses by Swiss prosecutors.

It follows a six-year investigation into a controversial payment to Platini, worth almost €2 million.

He claims the payment, which was approved by Blatter, was for backdated salary.

Evidence gathered by the Swiss Attorney General's office has corroborated that the payment was made without a legal basis, prosecutors say.

Swiss authorities indict Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini following years long investigation into 2 million Swiss franc payment to former Uefa president authorised by former FIFA leader.

— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) November 2, 2021

The case led to both men losing their jobs - but they've always denied any wrongdoing.

The FIFA ethics committee suspended both from any football-related activity for six years.

Platini's ban was later reduced to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on appeal, and he was cleared to return to football duty in October 2019.

He had been linked to seeking a seat on the executive board of FIFPRO, the global group of player unions.

85-year-old Blatter and 66-year-old Platini will now face a trial within months at the federal criminal court in Bellinzona, Switzerland.

Blatter has been in poor health in recent times and after undergoing heart surgery last December spent a week in an induced coma.