CONGRATULATIONS to the Republic of Ireland for qualifying for Euro 2016. Watching the game, then their fans and players celebrating after the final whistle, you couldn’t help but feel happy for them.

But for me, that happiness didn’t last long.

Because my attention quickly turned to Friday night’s events in Paris and the impact it will have on not only next summer’s tournament but on the rest of football and sport.

Short term, we will undoubtedly see a bigger emphasis on security at games. The Football Association has already contacted clubs to tell them about increased safety measures at Premier League games going forward.

There was also a plea for fans to turn up to yesterday’s game extra early so everyone could be searched and the FA asked fans to try to avoid bringing rucksacks.

Last night’s game between Spain and Belgium was cancelled due to security risks and we may see more matches, not only in football, called off because of bomb threats and other attacks of that nature.

As for long-term repercussions, French teams may find it harder to attract big name players.

PSG’s David Luiz has said he is reluctant to return to Paris but will do so because it is his job and he has a contract with the club.

His teammate Javier Pastore lost two friends in the attacks and has also said he will return but it wouldn’t surprise me if both players asked their agents to look for another club in either the winter or summer transfer windows.

Some athletes have already said that there is no way they would leave France, that they love the country and still feel safe living in and around Paris.

And then you have Euro 2016 itself. Every major sporting event, be it in football, rugby or athletics, has heightened security risks. It is the nature of the modern world. It is why there is always an extra police presence and next summer will be the same.

If Fifa and Uefa are happy to hold the next two World Cups in Russia and Qatar, to punish the French for the actions of a terrorist group could potentially set a bad precedent in the future.

It would send the message to any future attackers that they have the power to dictate where major events are held, if they are at all.

But at the same time, I was surprised that England v France was going ahead at the time the Star was going to press.

The message of “we will not be defeated” is correct but the emotional and mental toll this has taken on the French squad is unthinkable.

To hear the bombs while they were playing, to know that a terrorist tried to get into the game with a bomb strapped to him and then for those who lost someone or know someone who did, how can they rightfully play less than a week after the attack?

Antoine Greizman nearly lost his sister on Friday. Surely he would want to spend as much time as he could with her before he returns to Spain?

Lassana Diarra (pictured) lost his cousin. While football is his living, it is not his life and his family need him more than his teammates do. No-one would begrudge him a few days’ absence to spend time with his loved ones.

Captain Hugo Lloris said on Monday that the players had no choice but to play the game which I had hoped wouldn’t have been the case.

“It’s only human to have a few doubts, whether to play or not,” Lloris said. “We had some concerns but in the end the president confirmed we had to play this game.”

Had to. I get that you don’t want to seem weak and show Isis that they have won but I can’t see how those players would be in the right frame of mind to play football.

The emotion inside Wembley last night was striking. Both sets of fans singing La Marseillaise would have given even a robot goosebumps. But I can’t help but think some of the players would have been better off taking a few days off.

In saying that, the sign of solidarity at last night’s game has shown terrorists across the world more than any air strike could.

That no matter what you do, we as a society will not be defeated. We will pick ourselves up and get on with life and prove to you that we are not afraid.

You do not control the way we live our lives, we do.