UEFA Confirm France Will Still Host EURO2016 Tournament Despite Paris TerrorAttacks

The Union of European football (UEFA)
yesterday announced that EURO 2016 will
still be hosted by France come June next
year despite the terror attacks that
occurred in the Country last weekend.

“The EURO final draw will go ahead as
scheduled on 12 December at the Palais
des Congres in Paris and the final
tournament will be played in France
from 10 June to 10 July 2016,” UEFA said
in a statement on Tuesday (AEDT).

“Following the dramatic events that
occurred last Friday in Paris, UEFA and
EURO 2016 SAS wish to reaffirm their
commitment in placing safety and
security at the centre of their
organisational plans. While there is no
reason to believe that the EURO might
become the target of any attack, the
potential terrorist threat has always
been taken into account, since the
beginning of the project.” On Sunday
(AEDT), organising committee president
Jacques Lambert said the risk level
around the Euro 2016 finals had “gone
up”.
“EURO 2016 SAS and all stakeholders
involved in the organisation of the
tournament will continue their joint
work and will regularly monitor the level
of risk for the tournament and their
respective organisational plans,” UEFA
added. “For over three years now, EURO
2016 SAS has been working closely with
the relevant authorities to develop the
most appropriate mechanisms in order
to guarantee there is a safe and secure
tournament and we are confident that
the necessary measures will be taken to
ensure that is the case for all involved.”
The Stade de France was targeted by
suicide bombers as France played
Germany, while France midfielder
Lassana Diarra lost a female cousin in
the attacks and forward Antoine
Griezmann’s sister escaped unhurt from
the assault on the Bataclan theatre.
Co-ordinated attacks, for which Islamic
State has claimed responsibility, took
place in Paris bars, restaurants, a
concert hall and outside a soccer stadium
on Friday killing at least 129 people and
wounding 352 – the worst atrocity in
France since World War II.