NFL proceeds with Paris debut despite French civil unrest

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 22:20 · Archive

The NFL will proceed with its first regular-season game in France on Sunday between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France, despite ongoing riots in the French capital.

The NFL will proceed with its first regular-season game in France on Sunday, with the New Orleans Saints serving as the designated home team against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France. The game will be attended by approximately 81,000 fans. This comes as civil unrest has gripped Paris, with peaceful protests overshadowed by masked activists engaging in violence and looting.

Brett Gosper, the NFL's head of Europe and Asia-Pacific, told Sky Sports the league is prioritising the safety of fans and players but envisions no disruption to the game. 'It hasn't impacted it, but obviously we're keeping a good eye on that and we're in very constant daily contact with the French authorities on it,' Gosper said. NFL executive vice president Peter O'Reilly added that the league is being 'very vigilant' and has confidence in its 'operational and security plans' working closely with the two teams and Stade de France.

Some players expressed concerns about the situation. Saints tight end Juwan Johnson said some family members were undecided about attending, while Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker described the scenes in France as 'crazy'. The NFL acknowledged it has contingency plans for every game, including postponement or relocation, but said such discussions are not at a critical stage.

How it is being reported

• Paris NFL game given green light to go ahead after violent protests in FranceParis is set to stage a NFL game this weekend following violent unrest across FranceIndependent Sport · 20 Oct, 23:07
• NFL VP says league is 'vigilant' about security for France matchup, remains confident in plansThe NFL says it remains confident in security plans for its first regular-season game in France despite civil unrest and protests near Paris.Fox News · 20 Oct, 22:03
• NFL in Paris 'all systems go' despite riots in FranceThe NFL says it is "all systems go" as it prepares to make its historic debut in Paris on Sunday amid ongoing riots around the French capital.Sky Sports · 20 Oct, 15:12

In this story: New Orleans Saints · Pittsburgh Steelers · Stade de France · Paris · France · NFL

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