With one more day before the Steelers and Saints play in Paris, the NFL should not wait another hour to relocate the game.
No matter how safe the Stade de France will be for the game, it is not safe for NFL fans to be in Paris due to protests that turn into full-blown riots from time to time.
Consider the latest steps taken by the league regarding collateral activities. Via the Associated Press, the NFL announced Saturday the closure of its “NFL House” event, due to “potential accessibility issues.” Previously, the Steelers Fan House event was scrapped. The “House of Saints” has been postponed until Sunday.
Meanwhile, the US State Department issued a security alert warning “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings.”
Why would the NFL insist on moving forward? The risk, no matter how big or small, is not worth it.
The league said security at the game would be increased. Which necessarily means that security resources that could be used elsewhere in the city are being devoted to something that is far from a necessity.
Additionally, regardless of how secure the stadium is, fans who have purchased tickets to the game will be required to go to the perimeter where the NFL security plan is activated.
A football match between PSG and Lyon recently took place. moved from Sunday to Mondayunder the direction of the French authorities. If the NFL does not err on the side of caution and move the game to London, the powers that be in Paris should also order the NFL to push Steelers-Saints back to Monday as well. (This would move the game’s broadcast to Monday morning or afternoon New York time. Which could inadvertently unlock a new standalone window for future NFL games.)
It’s surprising that we’ve gotten to this point. The warning signs have been evident for weeks. Friday, even the president intervened. And the league’s determination (or, more accurately, stubbornness) to move forward has led to a situation in which the NFL may yet be forced to make a decision at the eleventh hour and fifty-seventh minute to do anything other than play the game as scheduled. Which, for teams, will only add to the overall inconvenience of traveling to another country to play a football match during the season.
There is no reason to wait. They should act now.
We are not aware of all the details. The generalities continue to suggest that the league should absolutely move away from plans to play in Paris at 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday.
Why take the risk of a fan being put in danger while trying to access the match? Why take the risk that increased security will be overtaken by an event that protesters-rioters might see as a perfect opportunity to make their message resonate internationally?
It seems increasingly clear that relocating the game is the right decision. Even if nothing happens, there is already a cloud over the very first Parisian championship match. And if there was even one incident related to the game going as planned, the NFL would risk being nicknamed what the French call the incompetent.
Gn sports
