President Donald Trump expressed concern about the NFL's decision to stage this week's international game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints in Paris amid large-scale protests and unrest across France, particularly in the capital city.
“You worry about it," Trump told reporters at the White House on Oct. 23 as he left for a rally in Florida. "I think it looks like tomorrow is going to be a bad day in France so you worry about it. I would have said the NFL could have probably postponed that match. France is really in trouble. That’s what happens when you go left. That's what happens when you allow unlimited numbers of people into your country from very unfriendly countries."
The NFL and the participating teams have maintained
they are comfortable moving forward with the game despite anti-government protests that have devolved into rioting and violence, resulting in more than 2,000 arrests across France. Earlier this week, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu asked regional authorities to enforce partial curfews in the evening.
Paris Saint-Germain's home soccer match against Lyon has also been moved from Sunday, Oct. 25 to Monday, Oct. 26 after a request from the Préfecture de Police de Paris, the department in charge of public security in the region. Ligue 1 announced the decision on Friday, with police preparing for another wave of protests after last week's demonstrations against France's high cost of living and worsening public education turned into a night of violence and looting.
But NFL officials have repeatedly expressed confidence in the league's security preparations.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that he has spoken to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the situation in France and the NFL's security plans. The Steelers and Saints had both arrived in France as of Friday, Oct. 23.
"Very high," Goodell said of his comfort level. "We're guests in the country."
NFL vice president for international and club business Peter O’Reilly said earlier this week that the league was "never close" to moving the game and remains "confident in our operational and security plans." He noted the NFL is cooperating with Parisian and French authorities, as well as the U.S. State Department.
The game is taking place at Stade de France, which is located in St. Denis, a suburb that borders Paris to the northeast and is about six miles from the areas most affected by looting last week. The postponement of the Ligue 1 match is intended to reduce the strain on the police force, which also will be patrolling the NFL game and the central area of the city.
"Obviously being very vigilant in everything we do, in all of our planning on an hour-by-hour basis, working closely with the two teams," O'Reilly said.
– USA TODAY Sports reporters Chris Bumbaca and Jon Arnold contributed to this story
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump questions NFL decision to play Steelers vs. Saints game in Paris
