Michel Platini Says 1998 World Cup in France was Fixed

Former football player and UEFA president Michel Platini reveals the organizers used “a bit of trickery” so that France and Brazil would meet in the 1998 World Cup final, according to online sportsbook news.

Teams were seeded accordingly with an eye on a “dream final”

Up until 1998, France had never claimed a World Cup trophy in their history, so with it being played on their home soil they wanted to stage a tournament that would be remembered for ages. But Platini, who served as the co-president of the World Cup organising committee in 1998, admits the organizers participated in fixing the seeded pots before the draw, so as to give France a greater chance of facing Brazil – then defending champions – in the final.

What’s even more of a striking revelation is that Platini implies that other nations that staged the elite tournament are also involved in “trickery” that helped their respective nations get ahead.

Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter (former FIFA) president have both been banned from football

“France-Brazil in the final, it was the dream of everyone,” confessed the 62-year-old. ”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?”

While speaking to France Bleu Sport, Platini commented that it was rather easy to pull off the fix, which actually led to France meeting Brazil in the final were the hots thrashed then four-time champions 3-0, with 2 strikes from Zinedine Zidane and Emmanuel Petit. “Group A was France, Group F or Group L was Brazil, so if they both finished first they couldn’t meet, that’s all – it was simple,” said the former Juventus star and France international.

Platini, along with Sepp Blatter, is currently serving a ban from football for their involvement in corruption charges that saw them accept illegal payments worth millions during their time as UEFA president and FIFA president, respectively.

Bet on 2018 World Cup in Russia with Bet365 Sportsbook

The upcoming 2018 World Cup kicks off on June 14 with Russia taking on Saudi Arabia (H 1.28 (7/25) D 4.75 (15/4) A 12.00 (11/1)), so make sure to place your bets on time by signing up with Bet365 Sportsbook. France have been seeded in Group C with Australia, Peru and Denmark, and looking at the other sides in the group it’s no surprise the 1998 World Cup winners are favourites to finish top of their respective table, with odds of 1.28 (7/25).

(For more info about the online betting site, check out Bet365 Sportsbook review.)

France have a star-studded squad that will look to combine experienced players with younger stars that have the pace to outrun the opposition. Didier Deschamps – who has one of the heroes in the 1998 World Cup – has been managing France since 2012. Under him, they’ve reached the final of the Euro 2016 that was played in France, but narrowly missed out on the main prize to Portugal.

The hierarchy at the French FA decided to keep him, believing he’s the right man for the job in Russia, but according to providers of internet betting in France that may change if he fails to deliver a medal from the tournament. To win the 2018 World Cup, Bet365 Sportsbook is offering fourth favourite odds to France 7.50 (13/2), behind the likes of Spain 7.00 (6/1), Germany 5.50 (9/2) and favourites Brazil 5.00 (4/1).