Irish Examiner view: The King is in court as Platini faces fraud charge

Whatever way the trial goes, it is bound to produce some interesting insights into the global business of soccer

Former Uefa president Michel Platini gestures as he leaves the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland on Wednesday, after the first day of his trial. Picture: Alessandro Crinari/Keystone/AP

Michel Platini is recognised as one of the most intelligent footballers of all time: Rated seventh in Fifa’s ‘Player of the Century’ vote; three-times Ballon d’Or winner; Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur. He was known as ‘Le Roi’: The King.

Attempts to get ‘the king’ into court were stymied yesterday after a trial in Switzerland was delayed when his co-defendant, Sepp Blatter — former president of world football’s governing body, Fifa — said he could not give evidence because of chest pains.