Sepp Blatter avoids testifying at start of Fifa fraud trial

He is on trial along with former France football great Michel Platini, his former protege who had been considered Blatter’s successor as president of the governing body of the sport

Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter leaves court in Bellinzona, Switzerland (Alessandro Crinari/Keystone via AP)

Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter told the opening day of his criminal trial that he was troubled by chest pains and unable to testify.

Once the most powerful man in the world of football, Blatter is facing charges of defrauding Fifa in a Swiss criminal court.