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Former UEFA head Michel Platini claimed that FIFA “owed” him the two million Swiss francs ($2.2 million) at the center of the case on Monday in a Swiss appeals court, where his conviction on fraud charges is being looked into.

At the start of his hearing, the French three-time Ballon d’Or winner said, “I still don’t understand why the public prosecutor’s office is picking on me.”

The attorney general’s office (OAG) is hearing a request from the special appeals court in Muttenz, near Basel, to reopen proceedings against the 69-year-old Platini and former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who turns 89 on March 10.

Blatter resigned as FIFA’s head in 2015 amid a corruption crisis, sparking a legal saga that has persisted for a while. Due to the delayed payment of two million Swiss francs, Platini, who served as UEFA’s president from 2007 to 2015, received in 2011 for consulting services.

In June 2022, the Swiss Federal Court found the pair innocent on charges including “forgery of securities,” “breach of trust,” and “disloyal management.”

The Federal Court gave them the benefit of the doubt because it found that fraud had been “not established with a likelihood that bordered on certainty.”

Platini, who was questioned in court on Monday, claimed he was surprised when Blatter first asked him what his expectations were for a salary after assisting him in winning the 1998 presidential election.

Platini said, “As I didn’t know this world, the world of FIFA,” “I randomly said “one million.”

“He asked me to spend “one million dollars”,” he said. ‘. One million of whatever you want: lires, pesetas, and roubles, I joked a little. And Mr. Blatter uttered the phrase “one million Swiss francs.”

Blatter allegedly told Platini in 1999 that he could not afford to pay him the million because they had already reached a written agreement for 300,000 Swiss francs.

Platini said, “I’ll give you the balance when we have money at FIFA,” “,”

The public prosecutor correctly identified his 2011 invoice as a “false invoice” meant to defraud the organization.

Platini resisted FIFA’s failure to pay the invoice and to file a lawsuit.

He said, “A word is a word, and a contract is a word.” “I owe FIFA money to me, and I would have done anything to get it back.”

Diego Simeone, coach of Atletico Madrid, acknowledged Real Madrid’s rich history but praised his own team’s performance ahead of Tuesday’s spectacular Champions League last-16 game.

Los Blancos, who have already lost four matches in less than a decade, host Simeone’s side in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. The record 15-time champions face Simeone’s side.

Real Madrid defeated Atletico Simeone in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016, as well as the semi-finals of 2017 and the 2015 quarters, and on the only other occasion have they met in the competition, in the semis of 1959.

Also READ: FA Cup Quarters For Man City And Bournemouth

Barcelona, Barcelona’s biggest club, has never won the Champions League, finishing third in three of its four matches, while Madrid are regarded as the “kings of Europe” and Barcelona, a Catalan giant, have won the trophy five times.

Nothing has changed since Simeone told reporters on Monday, adding that “I always put Real Madrid and Barcelona where they are because of their history.”

We are pure growth, which is very nice, and they both have a fantastic history. ”

The team had the opportunity to write a new story at the Bernabeu, according to the coach.

Real Madrid’s Champions League history is extraordinary, and we have a great opportunity tomorrow, Simeone said, “As we always relate situations to history, and history exists, that is how we always relate them to,” Simeone continued.

The big two of Spain’s top teams are competing for the title in La Liga, and Atletico is currently second, one point behind Barca, and two ahead of Los Blancos.

In Simeone’s opinion, their intense domestic conflict will not be affected by their European partnership.

The coach said, “I respect a game with a lot of respect when we play against a great opponent,” adding that they also respect us.

Because this is the Champions League, I believe all of the previous games will have no impact.

It would not be possible for us to play against a team outside of our league, according to the mayor of Atletico. ”

Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, hopes that the glamour of the Champions League will help his team, who is suffering from injuries, recover from their Premier League funk.

After falling 13 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, the Gunners’ quest for a first league title in 21 years has come to an end.

A successful last-16 draw with PSV Eindhoven could give Arteta time to reclaim some of his key players, as their first victory over Europe appears to be their only chance to end a five-year trophy drought.

Due to severe hamstring and knee injuries, respectively, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have been suspended for the rest of the season.

However, if Arsenal advances, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka could make it to the quarter-finals next month.

Arsenal’s inability to score in their final two Premier League games against West Ham and Nottingham Forest has made it increasingly clear that all four forwards are missing.

In Saka’s typical wide right role, midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to play as a makeshift striker while Arteta has had to rely on teenager Ethan Nwaneri.

“I am aware that that piece up there is lacking,” Arteta said. There is a lot to be gained, according to the statement, “We need to discover the solution.”

We have prepared for Tuesday, have the Champions League, and have a beautiful competition in hand.

Arsenal has struggled to find creative solutions in the final third all season.

In a 0-0 draw against Forest last week, the visitors were held to a scoreless draw. This was their ninth consecutive defeat in a game this season.

Since recovering from an ankle injury that required him for two months during the campaign, Captain Martin Odegaard has struggled to reach the heights of his previous two seasons.

READ ALSO: “Angry” Arteta admits to accepting the Premier League title that is out of Arsenal’s control.

One of the many managers who has experienced mounting injury issues has pointed to the strain a crammed schedule is putting on the best players.

On Odegaard’s inconsistent form, the Spaniard remarked, “He came back in such a strong way and performed at a very, very high level.

It’s very difficult to just keep doing that over time, as we are constantly demanding of the players, especially the creative players.

However, Arteta’s men had six days to prepare for the trip to the Netherlands as a result of Arsenal’s premature exit from the FA Cup.

And they can at least rely on the Champions League’s worst defense, which has been one of the best so far this season, to survive a free-flowing attack.

In the eight-game league phase, which included clean sheets against Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta, Inter Milan only conceded three goals to Arsenal.

When Arsenal were humiliated 4-0 at the Emirates in the Champions League group stage last year, PSV boss Peter Bosz was left impressed by their defensive ability.

The attack was over as soon as we reached their box. How is that even possible? “Bosz said that at the time.

The Londoners are more encouraged by the Dutch champions’ own domestic struggles.

Go Ahead Eagles have lost to PSV twice in the last week, and PSV have never won any of their four league games, despite posting a memorable 3-1 victory over Juventus to advance to the last 16.

Arsenal will hope to reach the last eight despite their goalless struggles before Saka and Martinelli can provide the much-needed firepower for a quarter-final showdown with Real or Atletico Madrid.

In Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final draw, Manchester City faced tough opposition from Bournemouth, while Aston Villa travel to second-place Preston.

A home tie between Fulham and Crystal Palace is the reward for Fulham’s penalty-winning victory over holders Manchester United.

After extra time on Sunday, Brighton defeated Newcastle 2-1 to take on Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, who had a game before.

In a difficult season for Pep Guardiola’s side, City has only a chance to win the FA Cup.

The Premier League’s top two clubs, Liverpool and Arsenal, have already lost to City as favorites for the title.

However, they fell behind by one point on their Premier League trip to Bournemouth earlier in the season, falling just four points behind them.

READ MORE: Man Utd crashes out of the FA Cup following Fulham’s shootout victory.

Fixtures for the Quarter-End

Crystal Palace vs. Fulham

Aston Villa vs. Preston

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth

Ipswich or Brighton face Nottingham Forest at home?

On March 29 and 30, ties will be played.

After losing to Fulham on penalties in the FA Cup, Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said the Red Devils must aim for a return to the top of the Premier League.

With United now 14th in the Premier League, 34 points behind leaders Liverpool, Amorim’s tenure in charge was made worse by defeat to the Cottagers.

The Portuguese coach, however, claimed that his ultimate goal at Old Trafford is to end the club’s 2013-year search for another Premier League title rather than winning a trophy.

Amorim said, “The goal is to win the Premier League again, so I am aware that we are losing games and trophies this season, but the goal is to win it again.”

“We have no idea how long it will take, but that’s our goal.” We can sometimes suffer a lot, but we still have a goal, so we keep moving forward regardless of what you think.

The notion that United once again reigns supreme at the top of English history seems fantastic.

In Amorim’s 16 league games, he has won just five.

“It’s impossible to predict (the length of time it will take),” he continued.

You begin to comprehend, though. I believe the players are better, the league is better understood, the squad is in good shape, and there will be more to come.

The Europa League is United’s only chance to win a trophy this year, so their immediate focus shifts to the competition.

Real Sociedad is in a tough last 16 tie, and Amorim’s men’s chances were not improved by being forced to play for 120 minutes.

After falling to Fulham 4-3 on Sunday in the fifth round, Manchester United’s miserable season came to an end.

At Old Trafford, Calvin Bassey’s men led 1-1 before Bruno Fernandes equalized after extra time to clinch a 1-1 draw.

Bernd Leno, the Fulham goalkeeper, saved from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee in the shootout, scoring all four of their kicks.

Booed off at half-time, another terrible result for United, who are currently 14th in the Premier League.

The 13-time FA Cup champions defeated Manchester City last year to reach the final, which they had won for the previous two years.

United will not be able to travel to Wembley this season because they only have a silverware chance in the Europa League.

With the announcement of 200 job cuts and United’s struggles against Everton and sluggish results against lowly Ipswich, Old Trafford has had another testing week.

Amorim, who only arrived in November to replace Erik ten Hag, acknowledged that life is “hard” right now for United and that this is the most recent blow to the underperforming Portuguese coach.

Before hosting Arsenal in the Premier League on Thursday, United travel to Real Sociedad for the Europa League last 16 first leg.

Amorim soon realized United were in for yet another miserable afternoon.

The much-maligned United striker, whose goalless drought now totals 18 games, was found by Rasmus Hojlund from an acute angle after Christian Eriksen’s cross found him.

Leno fisted Eriksen’s curler away, but that did little to placate fans who had endured years of failure.

United woe

In the first half, abusive chants aimed at Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family were audible, and banners criticized ticket price increases were displayed in the stands.

Sasa Lukic headed over from Alex Iwobi’s cross for the first time in a Fulham threat.

With just seconds before half-time approaching, Fulham gave the team the wrong message.

Rodrigo Muniz flicked on Andreas Pereira’s corner, and Bassey responded with Noussair Mazraoui’s six-yard effort with a quicker reflex than United.

After the Argentine’s petulant substitution for Ipswich, Amorim placed Alejandro Garnacho on the bench for the first 53 minutes.

Amorim claimed the winger had agreed to pay for his team-mates’ dinner after the 20-year-old stormed straight down the tunnel.

With United still in the lead, Amorim was forced to turn to Garnacho, causing a roar in the stands but no improvement for his team.

Andre Onana, the United goalkeeper, had to slam his right to stop Emile Smith Rowe, who was increasing Fulham’s lead.

United’s captain Fernandes papered over the gaps for a while this year, not for the first time.

In the 71st minute, Fernandes’ side leveled with a superb low finish into the far corner from 12 yards, matching Diogo Dalot’s cross.

There would be no escape act this time, despite United’s comeback from behind to defeat Ipswich and draw with Everton.

In stoppage-time, Onana denied Smith Rowe, creating a flimsy extra-period with few chances until Chido Obi almost snuck his shot past Leno.