As The NFL prepares to host its first match in South America on Friday, concerns about player safety have been a major part of the discussion.
He Philadelphia Eagles will host the Green Bay Packers at Neo Quimica Stadium in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET, marking the first international game of the NFL season, and the first in South America.
Men work to prepare the Soccer Neo Química Arena in São Paulo, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, as Brazil prepares to host its first NFL game on Sept. 6, 2024, between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
The game, which will stream exclusively on Peacock, marks the league's first Friday game during opening weekend since 1970.
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And while excitement around the showdown continues to grow, several complaints have emerged outside of the game's locale.
GREEN GANG?
Green Bay Packers fans await the team's arrival at São Paulo International Airport before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, in Guarulhos, greater São Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Earlier this summer, Packers running back Josh Jacobs He claimed that both teams were told not to wear the color green because of “gangs” in the region, an obvious problem for Packers and Eagles fans.
“In the part of Brazil that we went to, you can't even wear green. They said, I guess, it had something to do with gangs and stuff,” Jacobs revealed in Chris Long's Podcast back in June.
While the green color is a problem at Neo Quimica Stadium, it is not due to any gang activity.
Brazilian soccer club Corinthians has reportedly asked the host team the Eagles not to use the color in its stadium because of its affiliation with local rival Palmeiras. A Corinthians official told The Associated Press on Sunday that the move was made after a request from its president, who said green was only allowed for visiting teams.
SECURITY HELD UP FOR EAGLES-PACKERS BRAZIL GAME AFTER PLAYERS EXPRESS SAFETY CONCERNS
The Eagles will instead opt for black helmets, white jerseys and black pants, while The Packers They will wear their traditional white, yellow and green shirts.
How fans decide to present themselves is another story.
SECURITY
Arena Corinthians before the first leg of the round of 16 match between Corinthians and Boca Juniors as part of the 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup on June 28, 2022, in São Paulo, Brazil. (Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
The biggest concern ahead of Friday's game has been the safety of players and teams.
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said on his podcast this week that he wasn't looking forward to traveling, adding that he had specifically told his family not to travel to Brazil to watch him play.
“This week 1, I was looking forward to it. I can't wait. But, man, I don't want to go to Brazil,” he began. “And you want to know why? I'm here to tell you why. They already told us not to leave the hotel. They told us we couldn't do much because the crime rate is crazy.”
He later apologized for his comments, but he wasn't the only player to share his thoughts. Packers cornerback Eric Stokes said he had been told not to leave the hotel while in Brazil. Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown said they had been given a list of “things not to do,” adding, “I'm just trying to go there and win a football game and go home. That's the best way I can put it.”
DeVonta Smith simply said, “No comment” when asked.
EAGLES STAR SAYS HE TOLD HIS FAMILY NOT TO COME TO BRAZIL OVER SAFETY CONCERNS: 'THE CRIME RATE IS CRAZY'
But the local government is taking steps to prevent trouble. The São Paulo state government said it will deploy hundreds of police officers and provide escorts for team buses, and that trained dogs will be deployed at the stadium to detect possible explosive devices.
Helicopters and drones will also be used as an extra security measure during the game.
X GOES OUT OF LINE
(Tuane Fernandes/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Your favorite NFL reporters will have to use a different social media platform to report on Friday's game after a Brazilian Supreme Court recently banned it Elon Musk's X for failing to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, amid a months-long dispute with the courts over freedom of expression and allegations of misinformation.
Journalists have said goodbye to the social media platform formerly known as Twitter and instead turned to other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram Threads as an alternative.
Anyone willing to risk circumventing the ban by using a VPN risks a fine of around $9,000 per day.
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In the age of streaming, fans will unfortunately have only one way to watch Friday's game. It will stream exclusively on Peacock, meaning that outside of their respective markets, anyone without a subscription will have to sign up for plans starting at $7.99 per month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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