An NFL host and reporter is urging players on the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers to boycott next Sunday’s Week 7 regular season game in Paris, France.
Protests and civil unrest has been making headlines in Paris in recent weeks, as fans are growing concerned about the safety.
“Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” an NFL spokesperson said via email on Sunday morning.
“We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. . . . There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.”
The Saints are standing by it, too.
“We concur with the NFL’s statement and are planning to play the game. In addition to working closely with the NFL, we have also maintained daily security updates with our security partners in France,” Saints executive Greg Bensel said.
“Members of our football operations staff and internal security team have been on the ground in France for the past few days and there has been no disruption or impact at any of our team sites.”
But should the game be played?
One longtime NFL host and reporter is calling for the Saints and Steelers players to boycott next weekend’s game.
Saints, Steelers players urged to boycott the game
Longtime Pittsburgh media personality Mark Madden is urging the players to boycott the game, due to safety.
“Steelers& Saints players should refuse to go to Paris. And if fans go, they’re incredibly stupid. You’d be going into the middle of mass violent conflict to watch a football game. Morons,” he shared on X.
As of now, though, the game is on track to be played.
“The Saints are scheduled to serve as the home team for the Week 7 contest against the Steelers in Paris. The game is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET. For now, the situation has subsided. But the protests have been persistent over the past several, fueled by concerns about deteriorating schools and the cost of living. Things can change, repeatedly, over course of the next week,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio shared.
The game is on schedule for next Sunday at 9:30 a.m. E.T.
