UEFA Confirms France Will Host Euro 2016 After Paris Attacks

UEFA has thrown its support behind France as Euro 2016 hosts despite the recent tragic violence that occurred in the capital of Paris last week.

European football's governing body released a statement Monday, via Omnisport (h/t Yahoo Sport), where it iterated the "potential terrorist threat has always been taken into account" when choosing the tournament's host:

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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. 

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.

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Per Omnisport, 129 people were killed in Paris as three attacks were coordinated across the city on Nov. 13, one of which occurred at the Stade de France, where the France national team were facing Germany in a friendly fixture.

A suicide bomber detonated his vest at the gate entrance after a security guard prevented him from entering the stadium, per the Daily Mail's Darren Boyle, where the damage could have been much more horrific.

The statement added:

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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.

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ITV quoted Les Bleus legend Just Fontaine in his defiance of the tournament being held in France, as he proclaimed, "It is simply too dangerous."

However, UEFA has chosen to post a united front and stand by its original decision to stage next year's continental competition in France, confident in its ability to ensure safety and security will prevail.