NFL could force postponement of huge PSG game

News

Martin Macdonald | Writer

A high-profile fixture in France could be postponed this weekend partly due to an NFL game that is scheduled to take place in Paris.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints are scheduled to play on Sunday, 25 October at the Stade de France.

At the same time, Paris Saint-Germain are currently set to play Lyon at the Parc des Princes in what is one of the most highly anticipated Ligue 1 matches every season. However, there is a possibility that the French domestic game may be delayed until the day after due to a combination of the NFL fixture and the ongoing riots in the capital.

France is facing widespread unrest as people take to the streets over the rising cost of living, increasing fuel prices and declining public services, with concerns about school conditions also fuelling public anger.

Tensions intensified last weekend as peaceful protests descended into violence across several cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges. Shops were looted, fires were started and public buildings came under attack.

In Limoges, a large blaze caused severe damage to the historic town hall, while police in Paris deployed tear gas to break up violent gatherings. Authorities said approximately 2,400 people had been arrested across the country in connection with the protests and violence.

According to L'Equipe, French authorities do not believe they have adequate resources to police the streets as well as the two high-profile sporting events. It is believed that another mass gathering of protesters will take place this Saturday and Sunday in Paris.

Due to the infrastructure and organisation required to hold an NFL match abroad, it is believed that the Ligue 1 fixture would be easier to reschedule, but if PSG versus Lyon does take place on Monday evening, it will clash with the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s head of international affairs, said that the competition is content with the security surrounding the fixture.

“All of our plans for the Paris game this weekend are moving forward as planned," he assured.

“All of our events we have going on, we always have a very strong security presence around all of those events. And that presence will be heightened with local authorities making sure that there’s nothing more important from our standpoint than the team security, the fan security, everybody involved with this game.”

French authorities will try to enforce a curfew this weekend.

“We’ve made all the preparations. We’ve been in touch with the appropriate authorities,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

“Protests are not unusual in France.”

A decision on whether or not to postpone PSG versus Lyon will come on Thursday.