TERROR ATTACKS: EURO 2016 COULD BE PLAYED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Several of the Premier League's Belgian stars have expressed their sorrow and anger at the Brussels bomb attacks.

UEFA cannot rule out the prospect that games at this summer's European Championship could be played behind closed doors if there are sufficient concerns over terrorism, according to its executive committee vice-president Giancarlo Abete.
Authorities ruled out a cancellation or relocation of Euro 2016 after November's terror attacks in Paris, and France's Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, re-emphasised the importance of high security at the tournament in light of Tuesday's deadly explosions in neighbouring Belgium.
However, UEFA's Abete, who also served as Italian FA (FIGC) president between 2007 and 2014, said they may have to consider the possibility that games at the tournament could be played without supporters if "significant risks emerge."
"Security is the primary problem for all of us," he told Radio 24. "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.

Giancarlo Abete said it is right to take the threat of further attacks seriously, including in France this summer.

"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.
"It seems like the priorities today are different. We're talking about events that have already had a negative impact on the tournament -- there's a greater perception of risk and less enthusiasm to participate with positive spirits -- but we're still talking about a tournament scheduled for June, and we're talking about an emergency taking place right now.
"Italy play against Belgium at the European Championship and we have all got to carry on as normal. As sports officials, we need to continue working with faith and concern, understanding that these are battles you only win by maintaining a positive spirit."
UEFA later said in a statement that there are no existing plans to play games without supporters but suggested it was a possibility in "crisis situations."
The statement read: "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."