The NFL would have cancelled its first regular-season game in Paris, scheduled for Sunday, if the situation were unsafe, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said on Friday, referring to the recent protests in the French capital.France experienced some of its worst urban unrest in years last weekend, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to tighten restrictions on protests on Thursday amid fears that demonstrations planned for Saturday could turn violent.The unrest has already forced the postponement of Sunday’s Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, which has been moved to Monday night at the request of local police. Authorities cited security concerns and the strain on police resources over a weekend that will also see the NFL stage its first regular-season game in France.The demonstrations have been driven by anger over the rising cost of living, deteriorating conditions in public schools and teacher shortages.
Some estimates put the number of protesters who marched last weekend at 800,000.The Steelers face the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday, around 10km from central Paris.The four-time NFL MVP said he was confident the game would go ahead as planned.“I definitely think that the NFL is alert to what’s going on,” he told a press conference on Friday.“This game means a lot to the NFL. If it was unsafe, then I’m sure we wouldn’t be here.”NFL France general manager Matthieu Maignal speaks at a press conference in Paris on Monday ahead of the league’s first regular-season game in France between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints.
Photograph: Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport/Getty ImagesThe NFL said last week that preparations were continuing as scheduled despite the unrest. “We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters,” the league said, adding that there had been “no disruption or impact at league sites”.The game in Paris has been largely overshadowed by the nationwide protests, with new demonstrations planned for Saturday. The Steelers informed fans on Thursday that a “Steelers House” fan event in the Bastille neighbourhood would not go ahead.The US state department issued a security alert on Thursday night, calling on its citizens to “avoid demonstrations and areas of unrest”.“Americans in Paris for the NFL game on Sunday, October 25 should also exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings,” the state department added.‘Not overly worried’Many Americans and other foreign visitors have travelled to France to watch Sunday’s game despite the protests.Fred Zelt, a 67-year-old Steelers fan at the NFL House set up in Paris, arrived in the French capital a week ago.“We saw [last Saturday] a march of probably several hundred students.
It was completely peaceful,” he told Reuters.“Every place we’ve been seemed calm and normal to us. We now see shops boarding up windows.“There are lots of people out.
People are having a good time and we’re not overly worried.”Fabian Bauer, a 28-year-old Saints fan, travelled from Germany with his parents.“We had a long discussion about whether we should come here or not,” he said. “In the end, I informed myself, and most of the fans said it’s likely to be safe, especially on Sunday.“It’s not as bad as one might have thought. The shop windows are a bit damaged.”NFL closes Paris storeThe NFL pop-up store in Paris will be closed on Saturday, the league said on Friday.Monika Allen, a 56-year-old Steelers fan, was on her way to the shop on Friday to buy “more Steelers clothes”, saying she “didn’t prepare for the cold and the wind”.The unrest is not the only thing that has disrupted the build-up to the game, with Storm Austen hitting parts of the country.
Météo-France, the national weather agency, has issued orange alerts for much of the country’s north-west, including the Paris region.The Steelers landed in France on Friday morning. They were due to practise at the Stade de France before holding a press conference.They eventually cancelled their training session because of bad weather, and the press conference was moved to their hotel in Paris.The Saints have been practising this week in Versailles after arriving in France on Monday.“Due to elevated wind and rain conditions, in accordance with local authorities, there will not be a media viewing portion during today’s Saints practice,” the Saints said in a statement.The NFL also cancelled a fan event on Friday.“NFL Experience Paris presented by Wilson is closed for the rest of today due to adverse weather.
Please do not attend the site,” the NFL said in a statement.