UEFA asks Euro 2016 players to keep children off pitch following Wales celebrations

A UEFA official has asked the remaining teams at Euro 2016 in France to keep their children away from the pitch during post-match celebrations.

A number of Wales stars, including Gareth Bale, enjoyed the team's quarter-final win over Belgium by inviting their children onto the pitch for a kickabout after the final whistle.

Tournament director Martin Kallen has discouraged that behaviour, though, due to safety concerns.

"It is a European Championship, not a family party," The AP quotes Kallen as saying. "A stadium is not the most safe place for small kids.

"It is nice pictures. We are not 100% against it but we are cautious. It is getting more and more a habit that entire family members would like to go on the pitch or into the technical area.

"The principle is how far you go with having other people on the pitch than the players. People with accreditation cards should be on the pitch and not more."

Wales will face Portugal tomorrow in the first semi-final of the tournament.