EURO 2016 WILL NOT BE MOVED

UEFA have no intention of moving Euro 2016 away from France, despite the terrorist attacks in Paris. The country’s hosting of the tournament has come under scrutiny after 132 people died following Friday’s attacks, with hundreds more injured. However, France’s 1958 World Cup hero Just Fontaine has called on the country to give up its hosting rights, saying: ‘It’s simply too dangerous.’ But a statement from UEFA on Monday read: ‘For over three years, the tournament organising committee has been working closely with the authorities to develop the most appropriate mechanisms in order to guarantee there is a safe and secure tournament. ‘We are confident the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that is the case for all involved. ‘The Euro Finals draw will go ahead as scheduled on December 12 at the Palais des Congres in Paris and the final tournament will be played in France from June 10 to July 10, 2016.’ The 82-year-old legend Fontaine was present at the Stade de France on Friday night when the stadium was one of the venues targeted in a series of co-ordinated attacks across Paris. Explosions could be heard inside the stadium as three suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the ground while the friendly between France and Germany was being played. The death toll from the attacks stands at 132 and Fontaine, who holds the record for the most goals scored at any single World Cup after hitting 13 at the 1958 tournament in Sweden, believes his country should not stage next summer’s event. ‘Any other country could stage the finals, but we cannot,’ he said. ‘I think France should forego the tournament. I am afraid that this black Friday could be repeated. We can’t guarantee the safety that is required. ‘It is too dangerous. Do you really think that people are going to go to the Stade de France in the future?’ The chief organiser of the tournament, Jacques Lambert, promised over the weekend that France would make ‘necessary decisions’ to ensure next summer’s event took place in safety in the wake of Friday’s attacks. ‘To cancel Euro 2016 is to play into the hands of the terrorists,’ Lambert said. ‘We had a similar rise in the risk level back in January after the Charlie Hebdo attacks. ‘We will do everything to ensure the safety of the Finals next summer.’