Michel Platini’s defence says the Swiss trial against the former UEFA president is “the result of a conspiracy” designed to stop him from becoming president of world governing body FIFA.

Platini and former FIFA president Joseph Blatter are charged with defrauding FIFA in connection with a payment of two million Swiss francs (2.07 million dollars).

Platini was alleged to have received the money for work done as a FIFA advisor between 1998 and 2002.

The trial against the former two top football officials starts on Wednesday at a criminal court in Bellinzona.

Swiss federal prosecutors are speaking of “a factitious invoice” Platini handed to FIFA in 2011 and which Blatter authorised.

The payment was made later that year and also included 229,000 Swiss francs in social security taxes, according to the prosecution.

Platini’s lawyer, Dominic Nellen, said they could “show in detail that the proceedings against Platini were politically motivated with the aim of preventing him from becoming FIFA President.

“We are confident that the procedure will lead to a positive result, which will demonstrate the complete sincerity of Michel Platini in this matter. The aim of this story was to eliminate him as FIFA President.”

The case came to light in 2015 and ended Blatter’s reign as FIFA president and Platini’s campaign to succeed him.

Both were banned for eight years from football by the FIFA Ethics Committee but the suspension was later reduced for both by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Blatter, 86, and the 66-year-old Platini have both protested their innocence, stating a verbal agreement from 1998.

The Bellinzona trial is scheduled until June 22, with a verdict to follow in July. Suspended sentences appear likely if Blatter and Platini are found guilty.

(dpa/NAN)