Uefa: no plans to play Euro 2016 games behind closed doors

‘We are confident that all security measures will be in place for a safe and festive Euro’

People on the Stade De France pitch following last year’s terrorist attacks. Photograph: Getty
People on the Stade De France pitch following last year’s terrorist attacks. Photograph: Getty

Uefa has insisted there are no plans to play matches at Euro 2016 behind closed doors in response to the increased security threat.

Speaking to French radio station Radio 24 following the bomb attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, the Uefa executive committee vice-president Giancarlo Abete said: "We can't exclude the possibility of playing behind closed doors as we cannot exclude terrorism."

But Uefa issues a statement contradicting this position: “We are confident that all security measures will be in place for a safe and festive Euro and therefore there are no plans to play matches behind closed doors.

“However, we are nevertheless working on contingency plans and on multiple scenarios around crisis situations since we take the security of all participants (players, fans, etc) very seriously.”

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In response, the Wales coach Chris Coleman said: "That's good news as far as I am concerned. We are looking forward to a normal tournament. We were out there, checked out the stadiums, the changing rooms and hotels we are staying.

“Even in the stadiums where it is empty, we are anticipating what it is like and very excited. To think they will be full, in that atmosphere, is fantastic news – music to my ears.”