Massive street celebrations in France turned destructive overnight, resulting in the arrests of 426 people nationwide following Paris Saint-Germain’s dramatic victory in the UEFA Champions League. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed the sweeping detentions early Sunday morning after fans clashed with riot police across multiple major cities. The violence left at least seven police officers injured, including one serious injury in the southwestern city of Agen.
The unrest was triggered by PSG’s tense 4-3 penalty shootout win over Arsenal in Budapest, successfully defending their European title after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. However, the spontaneous jubilation quickly escalated as an estimated 20,000 supporters swarmed the Champs-Elysees in Paris. While the capital accounted for 238 of the total arrests, rioting and significant property damage, including smashed storefronts and multiple vehicles set ablaze, were recorded in roughly 15 other cities, including Toulouse, Rennes, and Clermont-Ferrand.
Authorities were forced to deploy tear gas to disperse crowds and seize illegal pyrotechnics as the situation deteriorated. According to state media reports, the extensive crowd-control operations were largely aimed at containing vandalism that saw at least six cars and a street kiosk burned.
Despite the overnight chaos, official civic celebrations are moving forward as planned. The mayor’s office of Paris’s 15th arrondissement is preparing for a massive parade at the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower, where nearly 100,000 fans are expected to gather on Sunday. Furthermore, the Turkish state news agency verified that French President Emmanuel Macron will officially receive the victorious team at the Elysee Palace.
The stark contrast between the violent street clashes and the highly coordinated official celebrations highlights the ongoing struggle French authorities face in managing massive public gatherings. The heavy police presence is expected to remain in effect throughout Sunday’s planned events.