FIFA Shambles: Former UEFA Boss Michel Platini Reveals 1998 World Cup Was Fixed

• 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
• France, who were the hosts of the tournament, met with Brazil, who were considered huge favourites in the final where France ended up winning its maiden title
• Platini is currently involved in a court battle after being ousted from office in 2015 together with former FIFA President Sepp Blatter over corruption charges

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.

Copa América champions Argentina take on Euro winners Italy in inaugural Finalissima showdown at Wembley

Football

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.

France and Brazil won their groups and ended up meeting in the final as planned by Platini and his team. The hosts won convincingly by beating Brazil 3-0 in the final.

Legendary Nigeria defender recounts how Italian Mafia forced him out of AC Milan

Football

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.

Mohamed Salah explains how he has turned his home into a hospital

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has lifted the lid on how his drive to be the best has left his home looking like a hospital.

The 29-year-old attacker won a raft of personal accolades and played a pivotal in Liverpool's double-winning side in the just-concluded season.

Salah played a whopping 51 games in the 2021-22 campaign, 35 games in the Premier League, 13 in the Champions League, two in the FA Cup and one in the Carabao Cup to underline his high level of fitness.