The NFL says Sunday's Steelers-Saints game at Stade de France will proceed as planned despite the heightened security in the city.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have landed in Paris ahead of Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, only to find the city dealing with more than just the usual tourist crowds. Bad weather forced the team to scrap a morning practice, and separately, the planned Steelers Fan House event at O'Sullivans pub in the Bastille neighborhood has been canceled over security concerns.
The cancellation follows renewed street protests after a French court suspended a police ban on a student demonstration. Thousands of protesters returned to the streets, and hundreds of police officers have been deployed across the city, with officials saying they will not tolerate looting or violence. The unrest is concentrated in southeastern Paris, near where the fan event was set to take place.
The NFL, for its part, is treating the situation as a minor hiccup rather than a reason to alter anything about the main event. A league notice confirmed that preparations for the Steelers-Saints game continue as planned, with the NFL working closely with local authorities on operational and security matters. Sunday's matchup at Stade de France remains on the schedule as the league's latest international showcase.