Former soccer leaders Blatter and Platini arrive at court for second trial over $2M FIFA payment
Sports
Blatter arrived 10 minutes after his co-defendant Michel Platini
MUTTENZ, Switzerland (AP) — Ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrived at a Swiss court Monday for his fresh trial on fraud, forgery and misappropriation charges, appearing frail one week before his 89th birthday.
“I am hopeful,” Blatter told reporters in German as he walked slowly down a flight of stairs toward the court house, reaching for the handrail to steady himself before wishing everyone a good day.
Blatter arrived 10 minutes after his co-defendant Michel Platini, the former UEFA president and FIFA vice president.
Blatter and Platini are facing a second trial nearly three years after they were acquitted by three federal judges. The charges relate to a Blatter-approved FIFA payment of 2 million Swiss francs (now $2.21 million) to Platini.
When federal prosecutors published their initial indictment in November 2021, they said the payment “damaged FIFA’s assets and unlawfully enriched Platini.”
