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Tantan – French authorities have reported more than 890 arrests across the country following violent incidents during celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) UEFA Champions League victory over the weekend.
PSG fans gathered in large numbers on Saturday night after the club won the Champions League title. While many supporters celebrated peacefully, authorities said the festivities were also marked by clashes with police, vandalism, looting, and other acts of violence.
Speaking on France Inter radio on Monday morning, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the number of arrests had risen by 45% compared to similar events last year. He defended the large police deployment, describing it as an “exceptional” security operation.
“We knew these celebrations would lead to arrests,” Nunez said. “Our job is to stop these acts of violence. If there were so many arrests, it means the operation was effective.”
According to officials, nearly 500 people were taken into custody in Paris alone. Authorities also reported that 219 people were injured nationwide, including eight who suffered serious injuries.
One man in his twenties died after crashing his motocross bike into concrete barriers on a highway exit near Paris during the night of the celebrations.
Police recorded 569 arrests and 489 detentions in the Paris area. Police Prefect Patrice Faure said the security operation had been properly prepared and noted that violent incidents had decreased by about 30% compared to last year.
The judicial response is already underway. Prosecutors have processed hundreds of cases, with at least 11 individuals scheduled to appear in court immediately on Monday afternoon. Most of those cases involve alleged violence against police officers. Authorities also said they are working to identify and arrest additional suspects who were not detained during the unrest.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon condemned what she called “unacceptable violence” and said France faces a broader problem of recurring violence and poor behavior during public events.
Far-right leader Jordan Bardella also reacted to the events, saying he was “horrified” by the scenes and linking the violence to immigration, while calling for stricter policies.
PSG won a dramatic UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal after a 1-1 draw, securing the title 4-3 in a penalty shootout in Budapest. It was a historic back-to-back European triumph for the French club.
