Ecclestone rejects bribery claims as trial begins

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has rejected accusations of bribery as he went on trial in a case that could threaten his grip on the sport.

He told a Munich court that he was blackmailed by a German banker who received a disputed €32m payment.

Ecclestone said at the beginning of a four-hour personal statement read out in German by his lawyers that he was “grateful” to be able to give his side of the story — though he told judges that he would answer questions from the Munich state court through his lawyers, rather than personally.