Former UEFA president Michel Platini has revealed that "a little trickery" was used in the draw for the 1998 World Cup.
The 62-year-old, currently serving a four-year ban from all football activity after being found guilty of accepting disloyal payments, was co-president of the tournament's organising committee.
Platini has suggested that the draw was tampered with to increase the chances of tournament hosts France and holders Brazil meeting in the Stade de France final.
"France-Brazil in the final, it was the dream of everyone," he told radio station France Bleu Sport. "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?"
Brazil were picked in Group A for the tournament and France were placed in Group C, meaning that they would avoid each other until the final if they both won their groups, which proved to be the case.
Les Bleus won the final 3-0 on home soil.
Daniel Lewis
