Sepp Blatter complains of ‘chest pains’ and gets corruption trial paused

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The start of a trial into allegations of fraud against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini has been paused after Blatter complained he was too ill to testify.

Formerly the heads of FIFA and UEFA respectively, the disgraced pair were due to go on trial on Wednesday. But Blatter, 86, informed the court at a hearing in Switzerland that he could not testify due to chest pains and breathing difficulties.

"The pain will come back and I am having difficulty breathing," Blatter told the court in a whisper. Judges at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona allowed the veteran Swiss administrator to make his testimony on Thursday instead.

Swiss prosecutors allege a 2011 payment of 2million Swiss francs (£1.6million) made by Blatter to Platini, ex-president of UEFA before resigning from the post in 2016, was unlawful.

Both men, once two of the most powerful figures in world football, deny any wrongdoing and claim the money was a late payment for Platini's advisory work with FIFA between 1998 and 2002.

Platini and Blatter were banned from football in 2015 and indicted in November 2021. Last year, Blatter received a new six-year ban from football, due to last until 2028.

A statement from Fifa at the time read: "The investigations into Messrs Blatter and Valcke covered various charges, in particular concerning bonus payments in relation to Fifa competitions that were paid to top Fifa management officials, various amendments and extensions of employment contracts, as well as reimbursement by Fifa of private legal costs in the case of Mr Valcke."

The trial into Blatter and Platini's alleged wrongdoing is due to conclude on 22 June, with a verdict expected just over two weeks later on 8 July. If found guilty, the pair could be jailed for up to five years or receive fines.

• FIFA

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