FRANCE 98 – Bulgaria – H. Stoitchkov: “Michel Platini is a friend”

BULGARIA team (Group D) player Hristo STOICHKOV (8), wanted to clarify the meaning of his gesture when he threw his jersey towards CFO president Michel PLATINI at the end of the first half of match #23, NIGERIA – BULGARIA on Friday 9 June: “I was very annoyed to read in a French paper that it was interpreted as an act of defiance towards Michel PLATINI. He and I are friends. I would never have offered my jersey to someone for whom I didn’t have deep respect. It was truly a friendly gesture.”