Sunday Supplement panel: Security must change at football

Is airport-style security now a necessity at Euro 2016?

That was one of the issues debated by the Sunday Supplement panel as they reflected on the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday evening, which included explosions at the Stade de France during the friendly between France and Germany.

Two blasts happened at entrances to the stadium and another at a nearby McDonald's restaurant, with Paris police later confirming two of the explosions were suicide attacks. Three people died and several others were injured.

The Euro 2016 organising committee insists the tournament will go ahead in France next summer as planned and will liaise with the French government and police over the next week to establish exactly what the increased terror levels will mean in practical terms for the competition.

And while the Supplement panel agreed the tournament should go ahead, they argued security measures at major football matches can never be the same again.

"It's a game changer," said the Daily Mail's Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton.

"You wonder in horror what would have happened had they tried to enter the stadium when all of the other fans were trying to get in.

"From what I've read and what I've been watching on the news, they turned up 15 minutes after the start of the game which made them more identifiable to the security people at the stadium.

You wonder in horror what would have happened had they tried to enter the stadium when all of the other fans were trying to get in.

"They had explosives and bombs strapped to their bodies and you wonder if they had entered with all of the other supporters with their tickets if they would have been stopped. You do think about the implications of that.

"I guess things are going to have to change at football matches.

"We are all used to going to football matches and people have drinks taken off them and have their bags searched, but I think there's going to have to be raised security measures.

"I think it's right football does try and continue and it's right the French are saying the Euro 2016 tournament happens, but things need to change. It's as simple as that."

Lawton admitted he is no expert on security but suggested installing airport-style scanning machines - as used at London 2012 and Wimbledon - appeared to be a good option.

"The obvious thing is airport-style security that everyone has to pass through," he added.

"I don't know how expensive that is going to be, but money really isn't an object in football as there is so much of it.

"It seems to me that surely that is the easiest thing to do - although there may be security people watching this and saying that's the most ridiculous suggestion ever.

"Surely you walk through the things you walk through to get on an aeroplane? It's as simple as that."