Over 500 individuals were detained by police amid the Champions League final celebrations in France, according to the French interior ministry. The unrest left two people dead and 192 others injured, reports RTE.
Celebrations broke out across Paris and other areas last night after Paris St-Germain decisively defeated Italy’s Inter Milan to secure their first-ever Champions League title. However, altercations with law enforcement later marred the jubilant scenes.
According to a preliminary report released by the interior ministry this morning, a total of 559 arrests were made, with 491 occurring in Paris. This resulted in 320 individuals being placed in custody, 254 of them within the capital, reports RTE.
On the Champs-Élysées, rioters shattered bus shelters and hurled objects at police, prompting officers to deploy tear gas and water cannons to disperse the large crowds that had swarmed the shopping avenue.
The ministry said there were hundreds of fires reported, including over 200 vehicles set ablaze. Twenty-two members of the security forces and seven firefighters sustained injuries during the chaos, reports RTE.
A 17-year-old was fatally stabbed in Dax, in southwestern France, during a gathering celebrating PSG’s win, and a man died in a scooter crash after being struck by a car in southwest Paris. Authorities confirmed 559 arrests, with 491 in the capital city alone.
Paris St Germain secured their maiden European title with a dominant 5-0 win over Inter Milan in Munich, crowning them champions of the Champions League, reports RTE.
Early goals from Achraf Hakimi and Desire Doue set the tone, establishing PSG’s authority in the match. The club became just the second French team to lift the trophy, following Marseille’s win in 1993.
There were also confrontations with police along the Paris ring road, and at least two vehicles were burned near PSG’s home stadium, Parc des Princes.
Inside the stadium, which had been turned into a vast fan zone for the occasion, 48,000 supporters erupted in celebration when the final whistle sounded in Munich, reports RTE.
“Total euphoria, crazy atmosphere,” said Gilles Gailliot who had been watching the game in the Paris stadium. “It made up for the wait and the years of disappointment. Finally Paris and its supporters have been rewarded,” Mr Gailliot added.
Fireworks lit up the city as fans leaned out of moving vehicles waving PSG scarves, revelling in their team’s historic European triumph, reports RTE.
Nearby, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated in PSG’s signature blue and red.
“I couldn’t dream of a better night,” said 18-year-old Amine. “Let’s spare a thought for Mbappe.”
French international Kylian Mbappe had left PSG for Real Madrid the previous year, seeking the Champions League glory he never found in Paris, reports RTE.
Anticipating widespread revelry, authorities had deployed around 5,400 officers across the capital to maintain public order.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had called for strict enforcement of law and order during the celebrations.
“True PSG supporters are enjoying their team’s magnificent match. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke the police,” the minister tweeted, reports RTE.
PSG midfielder Ousmane Dembele made a public appeal to fans to keep the celebrations peaceful.
“Let’s celebrate this but not tear everything up in Paris,” Dembele told Canal+, reports RTE.
French President Emmanuel Macron, a passionate supporter of Marseille, posted on social media: “A glorious day for PSG! Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe this evening.”
The Élysée Palace confirmed that the president will host the PSG team, who are also expected to parade along the Champs-Élysées, reports RTE.
After previously falling short in the 2020 final against Bayern Munich and struggling earlier this season, PSG finally delivered the trophy that their wealthy Qatari backers had long pursued.
On the streets, fans praised standout performer Desire Doue, who netted twice, and hailed manager Luis Enrique.
“What (Doue) did tonight is crazy but it is all thanks to Luis Enrique. The man came and he changed everything,” supporter Francis Delert said, reports RTE.
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