Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he’s not worried about the safety of NFL players, coaches and fans in France, where the league will play a game on Sunday amid widespread rioting across the country.
“Our embassy feels the game will be fine,” Rubio told OutKick and Fox News Digital. “We have no indication the game will be impacted in any way.”
“I was never planning to go anyway,” he added of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, slated for 9 a.m. EDT at Stade de France near Paris.
France has been hit by widespread political protests in recent days, some of which have devolved into violent rioting and looting in major cities.
Many on the political right in the U.S. have blamed the social unrest in France on immigration and pointed to it as a result of progressive ideology run amok.
The NFL, meanwhile, is playing a record 11 games overseas this season as the most popular U.S. sports league works to grow its brand internationally.
The league has already staged games in England, Australia and Brazil, with more international games slated before the regular season concludes in December.
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