NFL plows on with international game in Paris despite bloody violence and protests days out from players’ arrival

The NFL is proceeding with plans to play a game just north of Paris on October 25 despite the ongoing protests that have rocked the country in recent days. Hours before the New Orleans Saints were set to leave for France, where they will play the Pittsburgh Steelers next week, an NFL spokesman told The Daily Mail that there has ‘been no disruption or impact at league sites’ due to the protests.’Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,’ said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. ‘We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates.Saints executive Greg Bensel issued a supportive statement on Sunday ahead of New Orleans’ game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Saints are planning to fly out from the East Coast after the game, while the Steelers are planning to arrive Friday. ‘We concur with the NFL’s statement and are planning to play the game,’ read Bensel’s statement. ‘In addition to working closely with the NFL, we have also maintained daily security updates with our security partners in France. ‘Members of our football operations staff and internal security team have been on the ground in France for the past few days and there has been no disruption or impact at any of our team sites.’ Hours before the New Orleans Saints were set to leave for France, where they will play the Pittsburgh Steelers next week, an NFL spokesman insisted the game will be played  A person wearing a mask holds a placard reading ‘6 years of education, 1 diploma, 9 rejections a day’ in front of burning flames, the day after a national day of demonstrations  Flames and smoke rise during civil unrest, the day after a national day of demonstrationsFrench police have arrested nearly 2,000 people across the country following violent clashes between protestors and police over the rising cost of living and the worsening condition of public schools. President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with senior officials on Sunday before addressing his country in the evening.Groups of masked protestors were seen setting fire to public buildings, including Limoges’ 19th-century City Hall, which was engulfed by flames on Saturday, causing its roof to collapse.In total, some 550,000 people are believed to have participated in protests across the country, according to the interior ministry. An estimated 1,500 shops were vandalized.Police were seen using tear gas to disperse the crowds.Stade de France, the 80,000-seat stadium just north of Paris, has thus far been spared the ongoing chaos being seen in other parts of the country.Despite this, many football fans are disappointed with the decision to play the Week 7 game in France. ‘This seems incredibly stupid,’ Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy wrote on X.