Platini admits to ‘trickery’ in picking 1998 draw
French icon recalls plan to keep away hosts France and Brazil from meeting early in the tournament
France football great Michel Platini insists “a little trickery” in the 1998 World Cup draw ensured his home country would avoid playing Brazil until the final, which they won in Paris.
Not so, according to Sepp Blatter, who as Fifa’s then CEOlike general secretary conducted the draw in Marseille in December 1997.
Almost 20 years after France hosted and won the World Cup, the two men who organised it recalled very differently on Friday if Les Bleus were helped by a fixed draw to dodge playing defending champions Brazil for as long as possible.
“When we organised the calendar, we did a little trickery,” Platini, who led the French organising committee for years, told radio station France Bleu.
Platini said it ensured France and Brazil would be in opposite halves of the knockout draw if each won their group. Indeed, Brazil were top-seeded in Group A — by rights as the 1994 World Cup winner — and France were placed in Group C. Both did top their groups and advanced to the final won 3-0 by France.
Blatter, however, explained on Friday this was standard Fifa practice before and after 1998 to prepare the draw like this — setting up a potential dream final between the hosts and defending champions.
“This is absolutely normal what has been done,” Blatter said in a telephone interview, recalling the fifth and final World Cup he prepared as Fifa’s top administrator before becoming president. “I am very surprised that Platini came out and said this. There was not any ‘magouille,’” said Blatter, citing the French word used by Platini, which can also imply corruption. “There is nothing strange.”
Fifa’s ethics committee banned Platini and Blatter in 2015 over allegations of financial misconduct though both vigorously denied wrongdoing.
Blatter authorised Fifa in 2011 to pay Platini $2 million in noncontracted salary for his work as a presidential adviser begun after the 1998 World Cup through 2002. The case also involved pension contributions requested by Platini, which he was not entitled to.
Blatter said that French media were asking of Platini “Why the hell do you say this now?”
The 2006 World Cup was the last time that the defending champion was pre-allocated to a group in the draw. At the 2010 World Cup draw, hosts South Africa was sure to be in Group A and defending champions Italy entered the draw with the other seven top-seeded nations.
This is absolutely normal what has been done. I am very surprised that Platini came out and said this... There is nothing strange.”
Sepp Blatter » Fifa’s then general-secretary