Bars BANNED from showing Euro 2016 matches amid fears of terror attacks against fans

FRENCH authorities have slapped a ban on bars and bistros showing the European Championships on large outdoor screens because it would be “impossible” to protect fans from terrorist attacks.

The council in Marseille, where England play Russia tomorrow night, controversially wrote to the city’s cafes, bars and restaurants demanding they do not erect televisions on their terraces.

Marseille has been identified as a key target for Islamic State fanatics after details of a planned attack were discovered on the computer of Salah Abdeslam — the mastermind of the Paris terror atrocity.

But the French union of bar owners has accused the French government of “bringing them to their knees” as they look set to miss out what could have been a massive financial boost.

The ban means the 250,000 ticketless British fans who are set to make the journey to Marseille to soak up the atmosphere will be restricted to watching matches indoors or in heavily guarded fanzones.

The Marseille authorities are also banning swimming on the city’s beach during screenings of matches at the adjacent 80,000-capacity fanzone.

A net will be stretched across the bay to prevent a terrorist attack from the sea and to stop drunk fans from drowning.

A warship was also expected to arrive off the coast yesterday to provide added protection against murderous fanatics.

French sports minister Thierry Braillard invoked an angry response when he suggested the big screen ban could be rolled-out across the country.

Braillard said it would be “impossible” to protect fans outside designated fanzones and stated authorities “cannot accept unauthorised gatherings”.

The ministry later backtracked and said the nationwide ban would only apply to large screen televisions because they would be likely to attract big groups of supporters.

English players have reportedly been briefed on how they should respond in the event of a terror attack.