EURO 2016 Will Go Ahead In France – UEFA

The country’s hosting of the tournament has come under scrutiny since Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris, which killed 129 people with many more seriously injured.

The Stade de France, where France were playing an international friendly with Germany, was one of the targets in the terror attacks carried out by ISIS, with a suicide bomber detonating a bomb outside the stadium.

However, UEFA released a statement Monday, reaffirming their commitment to France as the host nation for their flagship tournament.
The statement read:

“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.

“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.

“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 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.”

France coach Didier Deschamps supported the decision, telling a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against England at Wembley: “Euro 2016 will take place in France. Measures will be taken for it to go ahead in the best conditions.”