Taking a strict note over recent terrorist attacks and growing threats over the upcoming Euro 2016 events, organizers have not ruled out the possibility to play the event behind closed doors. Although, it is just the preliminary statement coming out from UEFA den, but if we rely over closed sources, this could be a reality which would be the first time in history if it ever happens. If we remember correctly last world cup was also under severe threat of similar isolation after growing protests within Brazil for rising prices of day-to-day commodities and deteriorated economic condition and this is the same situation but this time difference is alarming as November’s terror attacks in Paris are still alive in everyone’s memory and no one wants to see something like that happens again on European soil at least. European governing body’s executive committee vice-president Giancarlo Abete made it clear after Tuesday’s deadly explosion in neighboring Belgium that they are very particular about security issues during the biggest European soccer event to be taken place upcoming summer.
Talking about the action plan for summer and if they are ready to play all the games behind closed doors irrespective of its economic effects on the sponsors, Abete told in a Radio interview, “Security is the primary problem for all of us. The sporting event is only secondary to the issue of people’s security. For every sporting event, there is somebody responsible for public order who is above any other person responsible for the organisation of the sporting event.
“The last two World Cups, first in South Africa and then in Brazil, were both characterised by the risk of incidents and social tension, for different reasons. It is something that unfortunately the world of sport has to live with. We need to keep our heads held high and keep faith in the values we trust. We need professionalism and sensitivity to take certain decisions, by staging as many events as possible and postponing or cancelling them in the moment in which significant risks emerge. There is always a risk of having to play behind closed doors because we’re talking about a competition that has got to take place. You cannot postpone matches to a later date because it’s a tournament that relies on results for it to proceed.”
However, he also made it clear they are keeping this solution to the last remedy if circumstances arise where everyone feels scared of playing in front of live spectators. Anyways, it is always unwarranted to risk life of players as well fans presented inside the stadium during a game, hence it is better to isolate the game than playing under any kind of security threat.