Michel Platini: A little trickery ensured Brazil v France final at '98 World Cup

Michel Platini

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has claimed a little trickery was used in the 1998 World Cup draw to increase the chances of France and Brazil meeting in the final. Platini is serving a four-year ban from involvement in football - reduced twice from an original eight-year sanction - after he was found guilty of receiving a disloyal payment from then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

The former France and Juventus playmaker was a co-president of the organising committee at France 98 and admitted the group allocations for seeded teams were made with an eye on a dream final. Brazil were placed in Group 'A', as was the standard practice at the time for the defending champions, with France then allocated to Group 'C' - meaning if both teams won their groups, they could not meet before the final. That was how it turned out, with France triumphing 3-0 at the Stade de France.

"France-Brazil in the final, it was the dream of everyone," Platini said. "There was a little trickery," Platini said. "We did not spend six years organising the World Cup to not do some little shenanigans. Do you think other World Cup hosts did not?"

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever