Amid large-scale protests and violent unrest spreading across France, the NFL (National Football League), set to hold its first-ever game in France, has announced plans to proceed with the match despite security concerns.
Earlier, the NFL scheduled nine regular-season games this season to be held in Europe, South America, and Oceania. Among these, the first French game—a clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints—is set to take place at the Stade de France near Paris on October 25.
However, France has recently faced extreme instability due to bloody clashes between anti-government protesters and police. Paris police reported arresting over 800 people in the metropolitan area alone. The situation has worsened as some protesters set fires and looted in central Paris.
Amid this, U.S. media and fans have called for postponing or canceling the game. With hundreds of French police officers injured daily, ensuring the safety of players and traveling fans is also becoming difficult.
Critics argue that proper security will be impossible, as tens of thousands of people are expected to gather not only for the NFL game but also for other sports events, including the French professional football League 1, on the same weekend.
Nevertheless, the game is likely to proceed. The NFL office stated on October 18 (local time), “We are closely coordinating with local authorities and security partners to thoroughly review safety issues,” adding, “There are currently no disruptions to league facilities or schedules.” The New Orleans Saints squad is expected to arrive in France early this week to adapt to the local environment.
Meanwhile, protests resembling an anarchic state have spread to major French cities, including Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Lille, in addition to Paris. Police estimates suggest that over 500,000 protesters took to the streets last weekend. Le Monde described the situation as “unprecedentedly severe urban violence.”
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