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PORTUGAL-WALES

"It's not a kids party" UEFA warns Bale over daughter on pitch

Wales players brought their children onto the pitch following wins in previous Euro 2016 matches and UEFA have asked them not to do it again after their semi-final against Portugal

Update:
Wales' forward Gareth Bale watches his daughter Alba Viola running on the pitch following the team's 1-0 win in the Euro 2016 round of sixteen football match Wales vs Northern Ireland
DAMIEN MEYERAFP

Portugal-Wales Live

UEFA are not happy with Gareth Bale and other Wales players parading their children on the Euro 2016 pitch in Paris after their last 16 win over Northern Ireland and quarter-final victory over Belgium.

Gareth Bale of Wales celebrates his team's win with his daughter Alba Violet after the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Wales and Northern Ireland
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Gareth Bale of Wales celebrates his team's win with his daughter Alba Violet after the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Wales and Northern IrelandMatthias HangstGetty Images

"It is always cute when the kids are there," said UEFA operations director Martin Kallen. "But it is a European Championship not a family party."

Bale hugging his daughter Alba on the Parc des Princes pitch after the 1-0 win over Northern Ireland became one of the images of Euro 2016 after. Other players also had their children on the pitch.

"There are certain safety issues..."

"We are not 100 percent against it, but we are cautious. We have to guarantee security," Kallen said. "There should be a certain order. There are also certain safety issues behind it. Small kids five, six years old. If something happens what do you do," said the Swiss official, who said there would be problems if there was a pitch invasion. "The stadium is not the safest place. You have to have that under control."