New Delhi: UEFA on Monday confirmed that next year's European Championship will be hosted by France despite Friday's deadly attacks in Paris, which killed at least 129 people.
In the wake of the attacks, security concerns surrounding Euro 2016 were raised in the wake of the attacks. France’s 1958 World Cup star Just Fontaine was one of the prominent figures to call on the country to give up hosting rights.
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, the governing body of football in Europe have released a statement yesterday confirming France as the hosts nation for their flagship tournament.
In the statement, UEFA "reaffirm their commitment in placing safety and security at the centre of their organisational plans."
The release added, "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."
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," a UEFA statement read.
"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."
