Celebrations Turn Chaotic
More than 400 people were arrested across France during the weekend as celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Champions League final victory over Arsenal turned disorderly. Authorities deployed thousands of officers to maintain order as disruptions spread throughout Paris, impacting bus, train, and rail services across the capital.
Newsweek reached out to the Paris police prefecture and PSG via various channels for comments regarding the situation.
Match Details
The events unfolded after a pre-match performance by rock band The Killers. PSG retained the European title by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic final hosted in Budapest, which saw a scoreline of 1-1 after extra time. PSG became the second team in the modern era to retain the trophy, joining European giants Real Madrid.
Announcing their success, PSG shared on social media, “The club wins a second consecutive Champions League and continues to write its legend, with all of its supporters.” They advised fans to celebrate with pride and responsibility to reflect the exceptional season.
Police Intervention
As supporters celebrated, large crowds gathered across Paris, notably along the Champs-Élysées. Police intervened after fireworks and flares intensified the unrest. Several officers were injured, and tear gas was deployed to disperse crowds from central city areas, reported by BBC.
“Footage showed flares lighting up the skies, electric bikes burning in the streets, and damage to commercial properties, including smashed shopfront windows,” a news agency revealed.
A local journalist, Luc Affrette, shared a video capturing a blazing street fire, accumulating over 1.4 million views. Additional footage from Reuters showed electric bikes on fires, with riot police working to remove them.
Incidents at Parc des Princes
Earlier at PSG’s stadium, confrontations emerged as fans watched the final on giant screens. Police reported damage to six vehicles, two businesses, and a bus shelter. By Sunday morning, authorities recorded 416 arrests nationwide, including 280 in Paris.
Comparisons to Last Year
The police were noted as being better prepared compared to last year’s celebrations, which ended tragically. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez cited a “robust” system but deemed the riots unacceptable.
Far-right politician Marine Le Pen criticized the chaos despite the security measures. Addressing the public unrest, she extended support to police, gendarmes, firefighters, and all forces mobilized for ensuring public safety.
These events might prompt scrutiny over crowd control for future high-profile football matches in Paris and beyond.