Disgraced former UEFA President Michel Platini has confessed that he tampered with the 1998 World Cup draw to ensure France and Brazil only met in the final.
Former UEFA President and France legend Michel Platini has revealed that the 1998 World Cup draw was tampered with.
Platini, who is currently under trial together with former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, has confessed that there was a scheme to ensure that hosts France, didn’t meet pre-tournament favourites Brazil until the final.
Platini was a very talented player during his days. He is one of the few players to have won the Ballon d’Or at least three times after his exploits in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
After retirement, he served as the head coach of the French national team from 1988 to 1992.
The Sun reports that Platini has alleged that the 1998 World Cup was fixed. He was the co-president of the World Cup Organising Committee for the draw that happened at Stade Velodrome in Marseilles.
When we organised the calendar, we did a little trickery. If we finished first in the group and Brazil finished first, we could not meet before the final. We did not work until we were bored for six years to organise the World Cup, not to do some little shenanigans.
When you are at home, you want to be able to enjoy things. Do you think the others do not do it for their World Cups? France against Brazil in the final, that was the dream of everyone.
Platini and Blatter are currently fighting a myriad of corruption issues in court. The ex-UEFA boss is said to have received close to 1.35 million as a ‘disloyal payment’ from Blatter. Platini has insisted that the charges were brought against him to ensure that he doesn’t become FIFA’s President.
