Blatter and Platini close to trial for "fraud"

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his French vice president, Michel Platini, are approaching a trial in Switzerland on charges of “fraud” and “breach of trust” in the illegal payment case that ended their careers in 2015, according to a statement. Prosecutor's Office AFP Wednesday.

The attorney general's office said in August the two men had "intention to bring charges" against them, leaving them to "make potential requests for evidence" before completing its investigation, a spokesperson said, confirming earlier revelations by Le Monde newspaper.

So, after six years of proceedings, the two men will be tried in Switzerland before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzon, in a clear indication of the direction given by the Public Prosecution Office to this file, which paves the way for a trial.

"If there is indeed an indictment, I look forward to the trial with optimism. Finally, we will have the opportunity to put all the facts on the table and clarify the case," Blatter said in a statement received by AFP.

The Swiss judiciary has opened an investigation against Blatter "on suspicion of his unfair management and bad credit."

He is accused of "unlawful payment" of two million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros) in February 2011 to UEFA president and FIFA vice-president Platini.

The Swiss was forced to step down as president of FIFA in 2015 and was punished by the Continental Confederation with an 8-year ban, then later reduced to 6 years, due to ethical violations after it was found that he had allowed two million euros to be paid to the former European Union president and former football star Platini.

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