SEPP BLATTER AND MICHEL PLATINI TO FACE CORRUPTION TRIAL IN JUNE — BBC Sport
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini will go on trial in Switzerland in June to face corruption charges. Swiss prosecutors say Blatter unlawfully arranged a transfer of 2m Swiss francs (approximately £1.6m) to Platini in 2011. Both men were indicted in November and have previously denied any wrongdoing. If found guilty, they could receive prison sentences or fines. The case was opened in September 2015 after FIFA, football’s world governing body, was dogged by accusations of widespread corruption. FIFA’s ethics committee launched an investigation which saw both men banned from the game and forced to leave their positions. The trial will start on 8 June.
USA GRANTED AUTOMATIC T20 WORLD CUP 2024 QUALIFICATION
The USA have been granted automatic qualification for the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024 as the co-host nation, along with West Indies. The 2024 edition is being held in North America for the first time, and will see 20 teams participate. There will be 12 automatic qualifiers, with eight remaining places coming from regional qualifiers. The 12 will be made up of the top eight teams from the 2022 event, two hosts, plus the next two in the rankings. The USA men’s side are currently trying to qualify for the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia through a regional qualifier in July.