Lambert Appointed as Chair of Euro ’16 Steering Committee

The former French Football Federation (FFF) director general who led France’s preparations to host the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Jacques Lambert has been installed as the head of the steering committee and president of the organising committee for UEFA Euro 2016.

Lambert will act as chairman of the eight-member steering committee, which will comprise four representatives from UEFA. The President of European soccer’s governing body Michel Platini unveiled the board for Euro 2016 in France, the tournament being the first European Championship to be entirely funded by UEFA.

FFF chairman Fernand Duchaussoy, French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno and a representative of the nine host cities – yet to be confirmed – will also make up the board for the first European Championship to have 24 teams.

Platini stated: “This will be the political arm of Euro 2016, where all the decisions are made. There will be no financial risk for the French Federation,” he added, indicating that the FFF would still receive “a bonus” if there is a surplus.

A joint stock company called Euro 2016 S.A.S, which will be 95 per cent owned by UEFA and 5 per cent owned by the FFF, will be created as the operational body responsible for the event.

The 11 cities in the running to host matches at Euro 2016 include Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nancy, Nice, Paris (Parc des Princes), Saint-Denis (Stade de France), Saint-Etienne and Toulouse. UEFA has given the FFF until mid-September to whittle the number down to nine cities.