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1998 World Cup Draw Was Fixed To See France-Brazil Final, UEFA Ex President Platini (pic)

Disgraced former UEFA president Michel Platini has admitted the draw for the 1998 World Cup was FIXED.

The Frenchman has claimed “a little trickery” was used to increase the chances of a dream final between hosts France and defending champions Brazil.

Tournament organisers, of course, got their wish, with Zinedine Zidane the star as France claimed their first world title.

Platini also claimed other tournaments had been rigged too.

The 62-year-old – who played for France and Juventus during his playing career – is currently serving a four-year ban from involvement in football after he was found guilty of receiving a “disloyal payment” from then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Platini 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.

Michel Platini poses with French president Jacques Chirac and FIFA president Sepp Blatter during France 98

Brazil were placed in Group A, standard practice at the time for the defending champions, with France then allocated to Group C.

It meant that if both teams won their groups, they could not meet before the final.

And that was how it turned out, with France triumphing 3-0 at the Stade de France with two goals from Zinedine Zidane.

“France-Brazil in the final, it was the dream of everyone,” Platini told radio station France Bleu Sport in an interview to be broadcast in full on Sunday.

The 62-year-old was laughing as he added: “There was a little trickery.

“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?”

Platini celebrates World Cup victory with France stars Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps

While teams had been allocated to specific groups at previous tournaments, it had typically been to keep countries from the same confederation separate while at Italia 90, the six top seeds were assigned to groups A to F in order.

England were placed in the “London group” at both the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96, ensuring they would play all their games at Wembley.

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