Rodgers Says NFL Would Call Off Paris Game If Unsafe

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Friday that the NFL would cancel its first regular-season game in France if conditions became unsafe. The game is set for Sunday, when Pittsburgh plays the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, the national stadium just outside Paris.

Rodgers addressed the protests that have been sweeping France. The Guardian reported his comments: "I definitely think that the NFL is alert to what's going on." He added, "If it was unsafe, then I'm sure we wouldn't be here."

The demonstrations are driven by anger over the rising cost of living, worsening conditions in public schools and a shortage of teachers. Some estimates put the number of people who marched last weekend at 800,000. President Emmanuel Macron tightened the rules on protests on Thursday, worried that demonstrations planned for Saturday could turn violent.

The unrest has already changed plans around the game. Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 match against Lyon, scheduled for Sunday, was moved to Monday night at the request of local police. The Steelers told fans Thursday that a "Steelers House" fan event in the Bastille neighbourhood would not go ahead. The NFL says its Paris pop-up store will be closed Saturday.

The NFL said last week that preparations for the game were continuing as scheduled. Stade de France sits about 10 kilometres from central Paris, which puts the stadium well outside the busiest protest areas. Still, the U.S. State Department issued a security alert Thursday night urging Americans to avoid demonstrations and areas of unrest. It told Americans attending the game on Sunday to exercise caution and stay aware of their surroundings.

For the football itself, the Steelers enter the game with a 4-2 record. The matchup is listed as Week 7 of the regular season. Fans at home can watch on NFL Network, or stream it on a phone through NFL+.

Whether the kickoff goes ahead as planned will depend on how the weekend unfolds in the streets. For now, the league's message is that it is still preparing for Sunday, and Rodgers's view is that the league would not play the game if the risk were too high.