A night meant for celebration in Paris following Paris Saint-Germain`s historic first Champions League trophy win, a commanding 5-0 victory over Inter in Munich, tragically devolved into chaos. The post-match festivities were marred by violence, resulting in two fatalities and widespread arrests across the capital and beyond.
According to figures released by the Ministry of the Interior, a total of 491 individuals were apprehended in Paris alone, primarily on the Champs-Elysees avenue where large crowds had gathered, leading to confrontations with law enforcement. Across the entire country, police reported a combined 559 arrests related to the events. Authorities also confirmed two deaths: one man died after being struck by a car while riding a scooter in Paris, and a 17-year-old tragically died from a stabbing during celebrations in the southwestern town of Dax. However, prosecutors have stated it remains unclear whether the stabbing incident was directly linked to the football celebrations.
Journalists present also reported seeing police deploy water cannons in an effort to prevent crowds from reaching the iconic Arc de Triomphe.
In a statement, police officials described individuals on the Champs-Elysees as “troublemakers” who were actively seeking confrontation and repeatedly engaged officers by throwing substantial fireworks and various other objects. Separate from the events in Paris, a disturbing incident occurred in Grenoble, located in southeast France, where a car reportedly drove into a group of fans. This resulted in injuries to four people from the same family, with two individuals sustaining serious conditions. The driver of the vehicle later surrendered to the police and was subsequently arrested.
While the majority of Paris Saint-Germain fans gathered peacefully in the capital`s streets to celebrate their team`s triumph, police confirmed clashes and disturbances took place not only on the Champs-Elysees avenue but also in the vicinity of the Parc des Princes stadium. The stadium itself had hosted a viewing event where 48,000 spectators watched coach Luis Enrique`s squad make history by lifting the trophy for the first time.
