NFL fans descended on Paris’ Stade de France on Sunday morning, even as violence and chaos continued in protests across the country.
Roger Goodell and his fellow NFL execs had been urged to cancel or move the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, but they opted to plow on with the league’s first ever game on French soil.
Undeterred by the violence happening around them, the players arrived at the stadium on the outskirts of the city ahead of kickoff, with thousands of fans, many of whom had travelled from the United States, following them.
In a statement released earlier in the week, the league said: ‘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. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.’
In the wake of that decision to ignore the violence and continue on, more clashes erupted across France this weekend, with more than 400,000 people attending rallies over school funding and soaring living costs.
The government confirmed on Saturday night that nearly 1,000 people had been arrested across the country, with wild images showing fires raging on the streets and police spraying water cannons at protestors.
Alvin Kamara warms up on the field at the Stade de France before the NFL’s Paris Game
Jamel Dean greets fans in Paris as the NFL plows ahead with its latest international offering
Fans from around the world descended on Paris, even as violence dominated the headlines
Photos from outside the Stade de France on Sunday morning showed a completely different situation, though, with fans laughing and seemingly having a great time despite the threat of further violence.
Many had speculated that protestors may use the presence of the NFL in Paris as a way to ignite further media coverage, though as of 8am EST it has remained calm in the vicinity of the Stade de France.
On Saturday, a huge march through Paris had begun peacefully, but near the demonstration’s endpoint in eastern Paris, masked protesters hurled objects and fireworks at police, who answered with clouds of tear gas.
Officers with megaphones urged protesters to disperse, and some demonstrators panicked as tear-gas canisters landed in their midst, scattering with screams, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 410,000, fewer than the 550,000 it said protested last weekend, while the CGT union that helped organize some of Saturday’s protests estimated nearly 800,000.
Hours earlier, the police were involved in more violent clashes with protestors around France
A protestor is dragged along by a police officer during tensions in the French capital Saturday
Protestors take cover behind a plywood board as police spray water cannons at them
There were an estimated 110,000 protestors out on the streets of Paris the day before the game
The ministry’s estimate included 110,000 in Paris, where authorities confined the march to the city’s southeastern edge, away from the center. The CGT put the number of protesters in Paris at 250,000.
More than a month of unrest that started with protests in high schools for more funding and teachers is testing president Emmanuel Macron’s authority in the final months of his presidency before voters choose his successor in May.
Meanwhile, on the field, the game will see Aaron Rodgers and his 4-2 Steelers team taking on Tyler Shough and the 2-4 New Orleans Saints.
The NFL is continuing its wide-ranging international schedule that has already seen games this season in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro and London, with Madrid, Munich and Mexico City to come.
