Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he was innocent when he appeared in a Swiss court on Monday alongside France soccer great Michel Platini, 2-1/2 years after they were both cleared of fraud.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and France soccer great Michel Platini are due to appear in court in Switzerland on Monday accused of fraud – two-and-a-half years after they were cleared.

Ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrived at a Swiss court Monday for his fresh trial on fraud, forgery and misappropriation charges, appearing frail one week before his 89th birthday. “I am hopeful,” Blatter told reporters in German as he walked slowly down a flight of stairs toward the court house,