Ex-FIFA Boss Claimed Wild Method 'Used To Rig Draws' In Explosive Allegation

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter once claimed that European football draws were 'manipulated' by using a particular method - a claim that was never proven.

Blatter, now 89, was handed an eight-year ban from all footballing activities in 2015 after being found guilty of breaches relating to conflict of interest and dereliction of duty.

The breaches were in relation to a £1.6 million payment made to UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011.

Both Blatter and Platini have twice been acquitted of fraud offences relating to the payment, most recently in March 2025.

They argued that the payment was 'belated' over advisory work that Platini had done for FIFA, and was a backdated salary payment to the former Ballon d'Or winner relating to the time period between 1998 and 2002.

Blatter's ban from football would have expired in 2023, but he was handed another six-year ban in 2021 by FIFA's ethics committee following a bonus payments investigation.

In 2016, Blatter sensationally claimed that he had previously witnessed draws for European football competitions being 'rigged' by using the 'hot and cold balls' method - though insisted FIFA themselves had never fixed a draw in his 18 years as president.

He told Argentine publication La Nacion (via ESPN): "Before the draw you put the balls in the freezer. Then when you touch them you can determine which ones are cold or hot. By touching them you know what you have.

"This did not happen in FIFA but I have been witness to draws at the level of Europe, at which it happened. But never in FIFA. Of course it can be done, but in my case it never happened, ever."

UEFA described Blatter's claims, which were never proven, as 'completely absurd', stating: "The accusation that UEFA has held fixed draws is completely absurd and, therefore, there is nothing to be said about the matter."

FIFA director of competitions, Chris Unger, was asked about Blatter's comments ahead of the draw for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He replied: "There's no truth to that. They're all the same; they don't feel any different, they don't look any different with the exception of the red balls, which are there for a purpose.

"It's entirely random and by chance how the groups get formed at the end."