Euro 2016 police chief keen to close fanzone

A picture shows the trophy of the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament during the final draw in Paris on December 12, 2015.
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French police chief Michel Cadot recommends that the Euro 2016 fanzone under the Eiffel Tower be shut during matchdays in Paris.

France police chief Michel Cadot has recommended closing a planned Euro 2016 fanzone in Paris due to the "exhaustion" of his over-stretched staff.

According to the AFP, Cadot has penned a letter to interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve suggesting that a zone near the Eiffel Tower - due to house up to 90,000 fans - be closed during the 12 games being held in the French capital.

Cadot has also reportedly cited the threat of terrorism from the so-called Islamic State as a reason for closing the area on matchdays.

French prime minister Manuel Valls has previously said that fanzones in all 10 host cities for Euro 2016 should operate unless a specific terrorist threat is made against them.

The tournament, which begins on June 10, could also be hit by severe transportation disruption after strikes were proposed to air and train services.

Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Nantes on December 6, 2014
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