By Andrew Warshaw
November 2 – The President of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noël Le Graët, has reassured UEFA that all stadiums will be ready for the 2016 European Championship.
The 2016 finals are the first to be expanded to 24 teams and Le Graët has promised his compatriot, UEFA President Michel Platini, that any delays in getting venues ready on time will be temporary.
UEFA has requested the final list of at least nine stadiums to be confirmed at its Executive Committee meeting on January 24 next year.
Four new arenas are being built in Lille, Lyon (pictured top), Bordeaux and Nice, while venues in Paris, Marseille, Saint Etienne, Lens and Toulouse all need upgrading.
The Stade de France (pictured below) is the only stadium which needs no renovation work.
“The French Football Federation is committed to deliver nine stadia, there will be nine,” Le Graët said.
“Today, we have 10, even if one or two are running a little behind schedule.
“Lyon has had economic problems in its financial management but it will happen.
“It is essential for French football and I think it will be delivered on time.
“St Etienne has no problem, Lille is on schedule, Nice and Bordeaux will start too, Marseille is in progress and Paris has not encountered any difficulty and neither has Toulouse.”
The 2016 European Championship will be the third time France will stage the tournament, after hosting it in 1984 when Platini famously captained them to victory, and back in 1960.
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