Platini reveals: I helped fix the 1998 World Cup

The 1998 World Cup in France was fixed, a sensational interview with disgraced Michel Platini has confirmed.

The former UEFA president says “a little trickery” was used to ensure hosts France and holders Brazil did not meet until the final.

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The French won the tournament beating Brazil 3-0 in the final in Paris 20 years ago.

But on Friday Platini hinted to radio station France Bleu Sport that all was not as it seems.

“When we organised the schedule, we did a little trickery,” he said.

“France-Brazil in the final, it was the dream of everyone. If we finished first in the group and Brazil finished first, we could not meet before the final.

“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?”

Former France captain Platini, 62, was on the tournament’s organising committee.

Platini was given an eight-year ban after he and former FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter were found guilty in 2015 of ethics breaches over a 2m Swiss Franc (£1.3m) “disloyal payment”.