Former UEFA president, Michel Platini arrested in France

Former UEFA president, Michel Platini, has been arrested by the French Police in relation to the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

Platini was taken into custody on Tuesday morning as investigations into the bidding process of the 2022 Qatar World Cup intensifies.

The French football legend is being detained at the Anti-Corruption Office of the Judicial Police outside Paris.

Claude Gueant, the former secretary general of the Elysee under former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, was also questioned by investigators as part of the probe but was not detained.

French financial prosecutor services initiated proceedings into the bidding processes of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups on the grounds of private corruption, criminal association, influence peddling and benefits from influence peddling.

Qatar’s bidding process have been subject to FIFA investigations, with American attorney, Michael Garcia revealing some of the nation’s conduct did not meet the required standards by FIFA though there was no evidence of any improper activity by Qatar’s bid team.