Steelers call off a Paris fan event in the Bastille area over security concerns, but Sunday's game against the Saints is still on

A weekend gathering for Pittsburgh Steelers fans in Paris has been canceled because of security concerns after recent street protests in the French capital.

The NFL and the team both said Thursday that the event, set for a bar in the Bastille neighborhood, would not go ahead. The news came a day after commissioner Roger Goodell said he had a high comfort level with the Steelers and New Orleans Saints playing in Paris despite the unrest.

"Following recent events in the Bastille neighborhood and after careful consideration, we felt it appropriate not to move forward with the planned Steelers House fan event in Paris," read a message sent to fans. It added that preparations for Sunday's game at Stade de France "continue as planned" with the league working closely with local authorities.

A team decision

Nicki Ewell, the NFL's vice president for global events, said the Steelers made the call. The league sent the message to fans because the two sides had promoted the event together, she said. No NFL fan events have been affected.

An Irish pub in the Bastille area had been advertising a Sunday watch party.

The Steelers said in a statement that the bar they had designated in Bastille, "an area that has experienced recent disruptions," would not be used "as a precautionary measure." The team noted that there had been no disruptions at league sites.

More protests possible

More demonstrations could take place in Paris and elsewhere in France this weekend.

Goodell said Wednesday that he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that officials remain in contact with Parisian and French authorities. "We've made all the preparations," Goodell said. He added that protests are not unusual in France and that the league would make sure "the appropriate arrangements are made."