The key facts

  • The NFL confirmed: the Saints — Steelers match on October 25 in Paris will go ahead as planned — it is the league's first regular-season game in France
  • The Saints fly to Paris right after their game against the Giants, the Steelers will arrive on Friday
  • French Interior Ministry: nearly 2,400 detained on Saturday and 997 injured police officers and gendarmes

League Confirms the Match Will Take Place

The NFL announced on Sunday that the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers, scheduled for October 25 at the Stade de France, will go ahead despite the protests and unrest in France. In a statement distributed to several media outlets, the league noted that preparations for the events and the match are continuing on schedule, the league is working closely with local authorities and partners on operational matters and security, regularly informs the clubs, and that there have been no disruptions or consequences at the league's facilities. This match will be the NFL's first regular-season game on French territory.

Clubs' Plans

The Saints planned to fly to Paris right after Sunday's game against the New York Giants in New Jersey and to train in the French capital for a week. The Steelers, who played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, intend to train at home and arrive in France on Friday. As reported by NOLA.com, the Saints supported the league's decision in a statement. The club's senior vice president of communications, Greg Bensel, said: 'We agree with the NFL's statement and plan to play the game.' According to him, in addition to working with the league, the club maintains a daily exchange of security information with partners in France; members of the club's football operations staff and internal security service have been in France for several days, and there have been no disruptions at the team's facilities.

Background: Protests and Unrest

The French Interior Ministry reported on Sunday that nearly 2,400 people were detained on Saturday and 997 police officers and gendarmes were injured when protests against the high cost of living escalated into violence. According to the agency, the authorities continued trying on Sunday to suppress the unrest, as the nationwide actions erupted into large-scale chaos and looting.