The NFL’s first-ever game in France, Pittsburgh Steelers versus New Orleans Saints, is kicking off this Sunday at Stade de France just north of Paris, and get this: it’s happening against a backdrop of serious civil unrest, riots, and over 2,800 arrests across the country. We’re talking Week 7 football played in a city dealing with some wild stuff, sparked by rising living costs and poor school conditions.
Paris Is Burning, NFL Is Playing
You heard that right. This isn’t just a few folks marching; protests throughout Paris and the rest of France have gone full-on riots. People are looting shops, burning property, and straight-up battling authorities in the streets. CBS News reported more than 2,800 arrests. It’s a heavy scene, one that you’d think might make a massive international event like an NFL game take a pause. But nope, the show goes on. With the league expanding its international footprint and landing its first game ever in France, you know security concerns for everyone involved, from players to fans, are through the roof.
The League’s Stance: No Danger, Just Heightened Security
So, is the NFL even sweating this? Amy Trask, the former CEO of the Oakland Raiders and an ex-member of the NFL’s security committee, spilled some details. She told CBS Sports that the league takes security matters “extremely seriously,” no matter if it’s a game in the US or internationally, or even just side events. Trask stressed that the preparation and planning are “extensive” and “tremendous.” Sounds intense, right? Despite all the chaos, Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s Executive VP of club business, international and league events, said on Tuesday there was “never a point” where the game was in danger of getting moved out of Paris or back to the United States. They are, however, definitely bringing in “heightened security” because of these demonstrations. Trask explained that US games already have multiple layers of security, from local to state to national authorities. When it’s an international game? Those layers only increase. She pointed out that security won’t just be at the stadium gates; it’ll be “well outside of the venue,” even before you hit the parking lot. Some of it, she mentioned, will be noticeable.
The game is set to go down, with the NFL seemingly confident in its extensive security measures to manage the situation. It’ll be a wild one to watch, not just for the football, but for how this whole international event plays out amidst such a tense backdrop.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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