No changes to Euro 2016 preparation, says UEFA

by Agence France-Presse
Reuters

Paris - Next year's Euro 2016 will go ahead as scheduled without any changes, European football's governing body UEFA said on Monday.

Friday's deadly attacks in Paris, including outside the Stade de France where the Euro 2016 final is due to be played, provoked questions about the country's ability to keep fans safe during the tournament.

But UEFA insisted in a statement sent to AFP that safety and security are always top priorities when organising a tournament.

"For over three years now, Euro 2016 SAS (the tournament organising committee) 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," said UEFA.

Related: Security top priority at Euro 2016, says head of organising committee

"The Euro final draw will go ahead as scheduled on Dec. 12 at the Palais des Congres in Paris and the final tournament will be played in France from June 10 to July 10, 2016."

Euro 2016 organising chief Jacques Lambert said on Saturday that preparing for a terrorist attack has always been part of the plans.

"The terrorist risk, ever since we presented our candidacy, has been considered a key risk," said Lambert.

"But that doesn't change the fundamentals: what we've put into practice with the Interior Minister remains relevant, we've just had to reassess the level of risk and the (preventative) measures."

Advertisement