The United States government has slapped a Level 2 travel advisory on France, and that is absolutely going to impact the Week 7 NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints. This isn’t some minor inconvenience, either. We’re talking about a serious warning, and yet the league is full steam ahead.
The Protests Shaking France and the US Warning
So, why the Level 2 advisory? It’s all because thousands of high school students in France have erupted in protests. They’re ticked off about under-resourced schools, and French media has been showing videos of absolute chaos: rats, collapsed ceilings, leaks, broken furniture, the works. These aren’t just kids complaining, either. Police have already made more than 6,600 arrests nationwide as of last week. The situation is seriously escalating, with students receiving “life-altering injuries.” Imagine this: a 14-year-old had his jaw shattered and lost many teeth from a police tear gas grenade, and a 15-year-old lost a hand in an incident involving a police stun grenade. That’s heavy, right?
The U.S. Department of State warned that protests can totally disrupt transportation services. On rare occasions, things have turned violent or caused property damage. Police are apparently responding with water cannons and tear gas, too. A Level 2 advisory asks travelers to “be aware of increased risks to safety and security.” That’s a strong message.
The NFL Says “Play Ball” Anyway
Despite all this, the NFL has made it crystal clear: the game is going ahead as scheduled. Seriously. They put out a statement saying, “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” for international games, and they “look forward to welcoming fans to Paris later this month.” You’ve gotta wonder how excited fans in Paris, or traveling fans, feel about that “welcome” given the government’s warning.
The Steelers and Saints are still slated for that 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff on Sunday, October 25, at Stade de France. Get ready for some football, even if the US government says, “Hey, maybe be extra careful out there.”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply