May 28 – France have been awarded the 2016 European Championships, beating rivals Italy and Turkey, UEFA announced today.
The UEFA Executive Committee, chaired by England’s Geoff Thompson, voted to awarded the tournament to France by votes to Turkey’s six after Italy were eliminated in the first round.
It will be the first time that 24 countries will contest the tournament, up from 16 in 2012, and will see a major tournament return to France after the World Cup in 1998.
Jean-Pierre Escalettes, the President of the French Football Federation, said: “This is a beautiful day for us.
“It is a moment of intense emotion to know that in 2016 France will welcome European football and will fulfil its promises.
“What counts for us is to have the full confidence of UEFA and this trust will not be betrayed.
“We also understand the frustration of Italy and Turkey – particularly Turkey, who lost by a single vote after bidding for a third time.”
France’s bid consisted of 12 venues – the Stade de France where France defeated Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final, Paris Saint Germain’s Parc des Princes, Lens, Lille, Bordeaux, Nice, Toulouse, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg, Saint Etienne and Nancy.
France last hosted the European Championships in 1984 when they won the tournament by a side captained by Michel Platini, who is now the President of UEFA.
Platini played no part in today’s voting – which is why Thompson chaired the meeting – and admitted to mixed emotions.
He spent several years playing for Juventus in Italy and had also publicly praised Turkey’s bid.
Platini said: ”The position of the president of UEFA being French is complex and let me say we have had three exceptional bids.
“It was a very narrow decision – the work done by all three federations was outstanding, and I would like to congratulate the French.
“It was not an easy situation for me – I am French, my name is Italian and I have many friends in Turkey.
“It was the same for Senes Erzik, the [Turkish] first vice-president of UEFA.
“But UEFA has proved once again that we have democracy.”
But the losers experessed their disappointment at being overlooked, particularly Giancarlo Abete, the President of Italian football federation (FIGC).
He hit out at Platini, who he claimed had introduced UEFA’s Executive Committee to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul said: ”We are sorry to miss the opportunity with only one vote.”
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