**Blatter and Platini Return to Court Amid Fraud Allegations in Fifa Case**

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are back in a Swiss courtroom, facing fraud allegations for the second time in less than three years, following earlier acquittal over a significant payment.

Swiss authorities are revisiting the case of former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and former Uefa president Michel Platini, as both men return to court to answer allegations of fraud. This marks the second instance in which they have faced legal actions regarding a contentious payment of 2 million Swiss francs (estimated at £1.6 million) made to Platini in 2011—a sum that Blatter authorized.

The duo had previously been acquitted in a 2022 trial, where they contended that the payment was a delayed remuneration for advisory work provided by Platini during his tenure, but the Swiss federal prosecutor has since appealed that decision. The current trial, which began on Monday in Muttenz near Basel, is anticipated to last until Thursday, with a verdict expected on March 25.

During the hearing, Blatter, now 88, maintained his innocence, stating, "When you talk about falsehoods, lies and deception, that's not me. That didn't exist in my whole life." In a demonstration of solidarity, Platini's lawyer reiterated that the initial ruling was correct, asserting that the controversial payment was legally justified.

Platini's background in football is illustrious, marked by a successful playing career that includes being a three-time Ballon d'Or winner. He led France to its first European Championship win in 1984 and later managed the French national team and Uefa as president beginning in 2007.

Accusations of fraud first surfaced in 2015 when prosecutors alleged that the pair misled Fifa regarding the nature of the payments. At the first trial, Blatter recounted that Platini had been recruited as an advisor in 1998 with a consulting fee that Fifa could not afford at the time. According to him, they agreed to a partial payment arrangement, with the remainder payable later when circumstances improved. Despite stopping his advisory role in 2002, Platini only sought the overdue payment in 2011 after reassessing his financial position.

The legal troubles compounded for both when they faced sanctions from Fifa in 2015 for ethics violations, initially serving a lengthy suspension that was later reduced. However, the 2022 trial in Bellinzona saw both cleared after the court accepted their defense based on a "gentlemen's agreement” regarding the payment.

Sepp Blatter, who has been involved with Fifa since 1975 and served as its president for 17 years until stepping down amidst the corruption probes, and Platini, who had also sought the presidency of Fifa before withdrawing his candidacy, now brace for the outcome of this latest legal challenge.