NFL holds firm on Paris game despite unrest

The NFL says preparations are on track for its first regular-season game in Paris, despite violence in the French capital. Sunday’s meeting at the Stade de France will see the New Orleans Saints serve as the designated home team against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brett Gosper, the NFL’s head of Europe and Asia-Pacific, says he does not expect the game to be disrupted.

The reassurance comes after unrest in Paris over the weekend, when masked activists and vandals turned peaceful protests into scenes of violence and looting. According to Gosper, protecting supporters and both visiting sides is the league’s priority. “It hasn’t affected it, but obviously we’re monitoring the situation closely and are in very regular daily contact with the French authorities,” he said.

The league is not seeing its events disrupted at this stage, Gosper said, and he does not expect the game to be affected either. “So we’re all systems go for this Sunday’s game,” he said. The information reaching the NFL supports its preparations, he added: “The safety of fans and players is obviously the top priority; we’re not going to put anyone at risk.”

There have nevertheless been concerns among people connected to the teams. Saints tight end Juwan Johnson said this week that some members of his family were still undecided about travelling to Paris. Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker described the scenes in France as “crazy”.

Beyond staging the game, the NFL wants its first contest in France to reflect the Saints’ ties to the country. Gosper pointed to a cultural and historical connection between the team and the French public. The Saints are currently the only team operating in the league’s global markets programme, he said, helping to associate them with France and potentially turning NFL followers into supporters of the club.

The league plans to bring Louisiana and Saints touches to the stadium, alongside other ceremonies to underline the significance of its first game in France. Gosper said each international game develops its own identity through the local fans. He also said the French public’s enthusiasm for sport gives the NFL grounds for optimism about its future in the country.

What comes next is not settled. Gosper said the NFL cannot yet announce its programme for next year and has not decided whether it will return to France. The league wants to develop these markets over the medium and long term, he said, rather than play once and disappear. He also pointed to the possibility of Dublin returning to the league’s radar in the near future. In London, he added, the NFL’s impact was greater this year than in recent years and could grow further next year.