French authorities arrested nearly 130 people across the Paris metropolitan area overnight Wednesday after celebrations marking Paris Saint-Germain’s advancement to the Champions League final turned into violent clashes between fans and law enforcement.
According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, a total of 127 arrests were made, with 107 occurring within the city of Paris itself. The unrest followed PSG’s victory over Bayern Munich, securing the club’s second consecutive final appearance and their third since 2020.
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Casualties and damage
The clashes were centered primarily around the Champs-Élysées and the Parc des Princes stadium. During the operations, 23 police officers sustained light injuries, while 11 rioters were injured. Among the civilian casualties, one individual suffered serious injuries caused by the use of a pyrotechnic mortar.
Minister Nunez commended police efforts for preventing widespread looting and property damage, noting that officers systematically intervened to disperse groups and successfully blocked rioters from shutting down the Paris ring road. He strongly condemned the individuals responsible, stating that hundreds of people often use these festivities as an excuse to seek out conflict with law enforcement.
Security concerns for the final
The violence has sparked a political debate regarding safety for the upcoming final against Arsenal, scheduled for May 30 in Budapest. Nunez publicly questioned Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire’s recent announcement of a city fan zone, stating the plan had not been coordinated with police beforehand. The Minister emphasized the need to review where such a zone would be organized to ensure public safety.
A pattern of unrest
Wednesday’s chaos is the latest in a long history of football-related violence in the French capital. When PSG won the Champions League title last year, over 500 arrests were made nationwide. A similar trend appeared in 2020 when police arrested 148 people after fans smashed store windows following a loss to Bayern Munich.
Even further back, the club’s 2013 league title celebrations were cut short by violent scenes that left 30 people injured. This pattern of unrest has also extended to international tournaments, with significant incidents occurring during celebrations for Algeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations win and following the 2022 World Cup semifinals.
