Euro 2016: Fans' safety paramount, says FAW boss

Wales star Gareth Bale has already said the national team has "great chance" to win Euro 2016

Security will be taken "very seriously" for Wales football fans in France to watch the team at the Euro 2016 finals, the Football Association of Wales boss has said.

Chief executive Jonathan Ford said the FAW would be working with organisers and others as safety was "paramount".

An army of fans are expected to make the trip for Wales' games in June.

They face Slovakia in Bordeaux, England in Lens and Russia in Toulouse in their first major tournament since 1958.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood called for 16 June to be made a national civic day so more fans can witness Wales take on England.

She said because the match will take place during working hours, employers should be encouraged to make provisions to allow employees the afternoon off.

Mr Ford said it was hoped friendly matches would be held in Wales before their Group B matches to give the "boys a great send-off".

The majority of home matches since 2011 have been staged at the home of Cardiff City.

The last time Wales played at the Millennium Stadium was the 2-0 defeat by England in March 2011 in front of a crowd of 69,000.

Mr Ford said: "Of course, there are some complications at home. There are concerts that happen in the summer at those stadia.

"We've got to look at that. We've got to put it all together as quickly as possible."

He said Uefa, which oversees football in Europe, took "security very, very seriously".

"Tragic circumstances here, of course, very much mentioned in the ceremony and in the draw," he said, referring to the Paris attacks in November.

"Our focus now has got to be on to the teams, but we will have many people working with us to ensure the environment is very secure for us," he added.