UEFA confirms Euro 2016 will remain in France following Paris terrorist attacks

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. I don’t think we can guarantee the safety that is required to host such a big event.

Fontaine was at the France vs Germany game when the explosions went off and recounted the horror as the drama unfolded.

“It breaks my heart to [say] what I say now, especially since I have been looking forward to the European Championship so much, but I think France should forego the championship”, the 82-year-old said to Die Welt.

Fontaine, who lives in Toulouse, said he had to wait for four hours before police said it was safe to leave the Stade de France and admitted he had “never known such terror”. “Do you think that people will ever be able to go to the Stade de France again?”

Could Euro 2016 be cancelled?

“The risk level was up a notch in January (after the attacks on the Paris offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine), and it just got up a notch”.

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. The security in stadiums works well, the risk is more out in the streets, in spontaneous gatherings”.

European Football governing body UEFA, has confirmed that next year’s European Championship scheduled for France, will go on as planned.

The knockout stages of the Champions Cup are not set to take place until early April while the Six Nations kicks off on February 6. Sydney Football Club fans held up a vast French tricolore ahead of an A-League match against Melbourne Victory, while the ice was illuminated in red, white and blue before a Washington Capitals NHL game with Calgary Flames.

The finals draw will be held in Paris on December 12.