- Two people dead and nearly 200 injured amid celebrations in France following PSG’s historic Champions League win.
- Over 500 arrests reported, including 491 in Paris alone.
- Riot police deployed tear gas and water cannon as unrest escalated on the Champs-Élysées.
- More than 200 vehicles burned; 29 emergency responders were injured.
What began as jubilant celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) historic UEFA Champions League victory quickly spiraled into chaos overnight, leaving two dead, nearly 200 injured, and more than 500 arrested, according to French authorities.
The unrest followed PSG’s 4-0 triumph over Italy’s Inter Milan on Saturday night, marking the club’s first-ever Champions League title. Fans poured into the streets of Paris and other French cities, lighting flares, waving flags, and chanting in joy. However, the festivities took a violent turn as night fell.
According to Reuters, the French interior ministry said that by Sunday morning, 559 people had been arrested across the country, including 491 in Paris. Out of those detained, 320 were placed in police custody, with 254 of them in the capital.
“Unfortunately, these celebrations were marred by unacceptable violence and destruction,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The Champs-Élysées became a focal point of the unrest, with bus shelters shattered and fireworks launched at riot police. Law enforcement responded with tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of unruly supporters who had gathered along the iconic boulevard.
Authorities reported that more than 200 vehicles were torched and hundreds of small fires were set across the capital. A total of 22 police officers and seven firefighters were injured while responding to the unrest.
The government condemned the violence and praised the emergency services for their rapid response. Security footage and social media videos are now under review to identify further suspects involved in the destruction.
Despite the chaos, PSG’s historic win was celebrated peacefully in many parts of France. However, the events on Saturday night have reignited debates over crowd control and public safety during major sporting events.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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