The NFL will increase security for the New Orleans Saints versus Pittsburgh Steelers game in Paris this Sunday due to ongoing unrest and violence in France, a league official confirmed on Tuesday.
Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice president of club business, international, and league events, said the league’s security team has been on the ground in Paris for about 10 days. “Our security team’s been on the ground and obviously working in close partnership with Stade de France, which is a world-class stadium, hosted world-class events,” he told reporters during a news conference in Manhattan on the opening day of the NFL’s two-day owners meeting.
The game is scheduled to take place at Stade de France, located in suburban Saint-Denis, away from the central Paris area where much of the civil unrest has occurred. Earlier in the week, Paris Saint-Germain hosted Barcelona in a Champions League match at Parc des Princes, nearer to the city centre, without incident. At least seven Saints players attended that soccer game.
O’Reilly said the NFL will maintain “a very strong security presence” at all its events, but that presence will be “heightened” for the Paris game. He added that local authorities are involved, ensuring that the security of teams, fans, and everyone connected to the game remains the top priority.
“All of our plans for the Paris game this weekend are moving forward as planned,” O’Reilly said. “We’re confident in our operational and security plans.” He dismissed the possibility of postponing or relocating the game, saying, “We have never been close to that point.”
The decision comes as France continues to experience demonstrations and violence linked to recent political and social issues. The NFL’s choice to proceed with the game under heightened security follows the example of other major sporting events held in the country during the unrest.
Meanwhile, the NFL is also defending the suspensions of two game officials this month after incidents involving players. Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, said on Tuesday the NFL will “fight that to the very end” after the NFL Referees Association announced it would contest suspensions for line judge Jeff Seeman and referee Adrian Hill.
Seeman was suspended for two games following a verbal exchange with Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride during a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. The incident involved Seeman appearing to curse at McBride, who was on the sideline. Details about what McBride said to Seeman remain unclear.
Adrian Hill received a one-game suspension after an incident in a Dolphins-Vikings game where he gestured and appeared to yell at Minnesota linebacker Eric Wilson after being knocked down during a play that had already been whistled dead for a penalty. Wilson was being blocked by a Miami player at the time, and his contact with Hill appeared unintentional.
“That’s just unacceptable,” Vincent said of both incidents. “They crossed the line. So that’s really, frankly, a non-negotiable.”
Hill has returned to officiating this week. Seeman remains suspended.
The NFL’s heightened security plans for the Paris game and its firm stance on referee discipline were the main topics at Tuesday’s owners meeting, reflecting the league’s focus on managing challenges both on and off the field.
According to Yahoo Sports.
