France's interim football chief 'optimistic' over women's Euro bid
French football's interim head says he is "optimistic" about the country's bid to host the women's 2025 Euros despite the chaotic scenes that marred last season's Champions League final in Paris.
Ahead of Tuesday's announcement of the successful bid to host the competition, Philippe Diallo, interim president of the French Football Federation, told AFP in an interview that he believed France was "in the running".
"I think that we have a very good case, notably in environmental responsibility which sets us apart," he said.
"Despite the incidents at the Stade de France, France has demonstrated on other occasions its ability to organise big events in the best conditions," he added.
"I remain completely optimistic."
In May, Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over Liverpool at the Stade de France was overshadowed by a 37-minute delay to kick-off as fans struggled to access the stadium after being funnelled into overcrowded bottlenecks on the approach.
Police then fired tear gas at thousands of supporters locked behind metal fences.
An independent report in February heavily criticised UEFA for the events that occurred outside the stadium and French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera has said that France has learned "lessons" from those events.
France is due to host the Rugby World Cup this year and the Olympics and Paralympics in 2024, with the Stade de France one of the venues for both sporting showpieces.
Diallo also said the French federation needed to find "peace" after the resignation at the beginning of last month of its president Noel Le Graet following accusations of sexual and psychological harassment.
"A few months in, I think we can say that the Federation works. We are even in the process of beginning its transformation," he said.
"There is a need to find peace and I hope to have already contributed to that."