The Steelers next game is against the New Orleans Saints in Paris and the NFL on Sunday reiterated it intends to play the league's first regular season game in France on Sunday despite the civil unrest that's been occurring in Paris over the past few weeks.
The Steelers are scheduled to travel to Paris on Thursday, The Saints traveled to Paris right after the game. Game time is 9:30 Sunday morning in Pittsburgh.
One fan that called into 93.7 The Fan’s postgame show on Sunday said he is already there.
Paul Alexander asked David if he feels safe in the city. “We don’t know.”
David said he was in line at Notre-Dame Cathedral over the weekend when he saw a large group of protestors.
“On one of the side streets, a whole big crowd of kids came roaring up the street and police and military people in riot gear come out of nowhere . . . forced (the protestors) back down the street,” said David.
He said he then went to the Bastille section of the city to watch the Steelers game and ran into a Ravens fan.
The Ravens fan said he was eating dinner with his family over the weekend when a chair came through the window.
David said he felt uncomfortable getting a taxi because every street corner was filled with protesting kids in all black clothing.
“It’s a problem,” said David.
David said he’s also seen kids taking bicycles and typically-outdoor cafes have been putting their tables and chairs inside.
He says that restaurants, hotels and other businesses are utilizing security and are offering freebees and other deals to try to get people to stay.
David’s plan is to stay in Paris, but if the game is moved, he says he is going to try to get on a plane as soon as he can.
The NFL released a statement on Sunday about the upcoming game, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
“Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” the NFL 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.”
Police have made more than 6,600 arrests since late September, when students, most of them under 18, began protesting to demand more education funding, according to the Interior Ministry. The Education Ministry said 375 schools were fully or partially closed Thursday.
Pressure mounts on government
While the number of school closures was down compared to Tuesday, pressure is mounting on the government of outgoing President Emmanuel Macron.
The protests against the underfunding of schools — many of them struggling with dilapidated facilities and insufficient staff — have drawn troublemakers not concerned about the aims of the protest movement as well as unions and political groups.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
