President Donald Trump believes the NFL is playing a dangerous game this Sunday with its international schedule.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints will square off this Sunday at Stade de France in Paris. Although there’s plenty of hype surrounding the first-ever NFL game in Paris, fans are worried about all the protests and riots taking place in France’s capital.
Paris has been dealing with protests since September as civilians are fed up with poor school conditions as well as the cost of living. Thousands of people have been arrested since the start of these protests. Things have been so bad that a Level II travel advisory was issued for France.
Despite serious safety concerns in Paris, the NFL won’t relocate this weekend’s game between the Steelers and Saints.
While speaking to the media this Friday afternoon, Trump urged the NFL to postpone the Steelers-Saints game.
“It’s looking like tomorrow’s going to be a bad day in France, so you worry about it,” Trump told reporters. “I would have said the NFL could have probably postponed that match, if you want to know the truth, because France is really in trouble.”
Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports.
Don’t expect a change to the NFL schedule.
Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive VP of club business, international and league events, said there’ll be heightened security measures in place for Sunday’s game in Paris.
“There’s nothing more important from our standpoint than the teams’ security, the fans’ security — everybody involved with this game,” O’Reilly said at the Fall League Meeting. “Obviously being very vigilant in everything we do, in all of our planning on an hour-by-hour basis, working closely with the two teams.”
NFL fans traveling to Paris for this game have received a safety map to ensure they don’t end up in harm’s way.
We’re certainly hoping all the fans, players and coaches safely arrive to Stade de France on Sunday.
