A weekend event for Pittsburgh Steelers fans in Paris has been canceled over security concerns following recent street protests in the French capital. The NFL and the team announced Thursday that the planned gathering at a bar in the Bastille neighborhood would not go ahead.
The decision came a day after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he had a high comfort level with the teams playing in Paris despite the recent civil unrest. More demonstrations could take place this weekend in the capital and elsewhere in France.
In a message to fans, the Steelers said the decision followed "recent events in the Bastille neighborhood" and "careful consideration." The message added that preparations for Sunday's NFL Paris game at Stade de France continue as planned, with the league working closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters.
Nicki Ewell, NFL vice president for global events, told The Associated Press that the club made the call, and that the league distributed the message because the two had worked together to promote the event. Ewell said no NFL fan events had been affected. An Irish pub called O'Sullivans in the Bastille area had been advertising a watch party for Sunday.
Goodell said on Wednesday that he had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that officials remain in contact with Parisian and French authorities. "We've made all the preparations," he said. "Protests are not unusual in France, as you know, and that's something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made."
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing