French police arrested more than 400 people after celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory turned violent.
Clashes between football fans and police broke out across France after Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal in the Champions League final. PSG won the match on penalties, claiming back-to-back European titles. The final was played in Budapest, Hungary, and ended 1-1 after extra time before the shootout.
Thousands of officers were deployed to manage the unrest, which disrupted bus, train, and rail services in Paris. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds in the city centre. Fireworks and flares were set off during the night, and several officers were injured.
According to the French interior ministry, 416 people were arrested across the country in the early hours of Sunday. Of those, around 280 were detained in Paris. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said seven officers were injured and described the unrest as unacceptable.
PSG Champions League Celebrations Spark Clashes in Paris
The Champs-Elysees was packed with fans shortly after the win. Around 20,000 people gathered along the avenue near the Arc de Triomphe, where police worked to contain the crowd. Footage from the city showed flares being set off, electric bikes burning on the roads, and the glass of at least one shopfront being smashed.
The main ring road around Paris was briefly blocked by a crowd before police cleared it. Officers also contained about 1,000 people gathered near PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium in the 16th arrondissement and removed barricades made from bicycles. Earlier in the day, there were clashes between police and supporters who arrived to watch the final on giant screens at the stadium.
Police said six vehicles, two businesses, and a bus shelter were damaged during the unrest. A bakery and a restaurant were among the properties affected, according to authorities.
Stronger Police Response After Last Year’s PSG Final Violence
There was similar violence when PSG won the same trophy the previous year. Those celebrations turned deadly, with two deaths and hundreds of arrests recorded across France. Nuñez said the authorities were better prepared this time, with what he described as a robust and solid system in place.
France deployed a large security operation to maintain order in the capital. The interior ministry said the response was designed to allow fans to celebrate while keeping public spaces secure.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen commented on the unrest on X. She wrote that only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots, and said people felt compelled to stay home on the night of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence.
PSG players were due to take part in a victory parade on Sunday afternoon. The route included a tour of the Champ-de-Mars next to the Eiffel Tower, followed by a reception hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Tens of thousands of supporters were expected to gather for the parade.
Macron congratulated the team on X after the final, writing that a new star was shining over Paris and that the players were making all of Europe dream.
The win marked PSG’s second consecutive Champions League title. Captain Marquinhos said the achievement was incredible and credited the squad’s mentality and work ethic across the season.
