Seriously, can you believe this? Protests are raging in Paris for their third week straight, with over 5,000 people reportedly detained, but the NFL is still full steam ahead with its plans to play the Steelers-Saints game there on October 25. Despite growing concern about fan and player safety, the league announced Wednesday that the first-ever regular season NFL game in France is absolutely, positively still on.
Paris Protests Intensify, But the NFL Isn’t Backing Down
You’ve gotta wonder what’s going through the minds of players and fans right now. With Paris seeing its third week of intense protests, and growing concern for everyone’s safety, a lot of us thought the league might hit pause. But nope, the NFL came out swinging, telling ESPN that the game is still set for October 25 at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris. Their statement was pretty direct: “We’re excited for the first-ever regular season game in Paris, and preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France on October 25.” They added that they work closely with local authorities on “all operational and security matters,” like they do for every game. It’s wild to think they’re pushing forward with this given the backdrop.
Social Unrest and Government Deadlock: The Stakes in France
This isn’t just some small gathering either. We’re talking about massive social unrest, all because folks are demanding actual changes to their education system. Protestors are demanding that the government address under-resourced schools, poor conditions, and serious teacher shortages. Students are saying their schools are literally falling apart, with rats in the buildings. Rats! The protests have gotten violent, too, with authorities using tear gas and stun grenades to try and control the crowds. Protestors have reportedly set fires and caused damage, and CBS News reports over 5,000 people have been detained in connection with it all. Local officials are even investigating both the protests and how the police have responded. The French government, apparently in a “political deadlock” ahead of presidential elections in the spring, hasn’t responded with any plans or solutions for these complaints. It’s a seriously tense situation.
First-Ever Game in France: Is It Worth the Risk?
Now, the NFL isn’t totally new to moving games. They’ve done it for extreme weather or bad field conditions before. The Saints are technically the home team for this one, and their only other listed event in New Orleans that day is a private youth sports event at Caesar’s Superdome. So, could they just move it back there if things escalate? Yeah, it seems possible, but the league’s saying “no way” right now. This game is a huge deal, though. It’s supposed to be the first-ever NFL game played in France. The Steelers were in Dublin last season, and the Saints visited London in 2022. This Paris game is a big next step for the league’s international push. If the situation in Paris somehow gets worse, maybe the NFL reconsiders, but for now, the October 25 matchup is still on. Will they really play a game with all this going down? We’ll find out in just 11 days.
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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