PSG Fans Celebrate Champions League Victory Amid Clashes

A large gathering of Paris Saint-Germain fans celebrated their team’s second Champions League win near the Eiffel Tower on Sunday. The celebrations followed a night of unrest across France, resulting in police detaining hundreds of individuals.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that 780 people were detained in Paris and other cities. Among the detained, 57 officers were injured, mostly suffering minor injuries. Incidents included fires and vandalized shops. Nuñez assured the public that the situation has largely been brought under control.

In Paris, most celebrations were peaceful. However, incidents occurred near the Champs Elysees and Parc des Princes stadium, where fans had gathered to watch the match. PSG defeated Arsenal in Budapest after a tense penalty shootout, prompting fans to march in celebration along the city’s avenues, setting off flares and sounding car horns. Approximately 20,000 people gathered on the Champs-Elysees.

Celebrations at the Champ de Mars were scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Up to 100,000 fans attended the event, which was held under tight security. The Eiffel Tower served as a backdrop as PSG players, led by captain Marquinhos, coach Luis Enrique, and club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, greeted fans. The players took turns lifting the trophy amid cheers.

Following the event, the team was welcomed at the Elysee presidential palace by French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron condemned the violence, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach, asserting that such behavior does not align with the spirit of soccer or sport. He expressed the need to end these incidents.

Nuñez detailed that disturbances occurred in around 15 cities, with minor vandalism reported outside Paris. He confirmed police detained 780 people, with 480 in the Paris area alone. Police efforts included preventing traffic blockades around Paris. In one incident, a vehicle crash injured two people, one seriously.

The Paris prosecutors’ office indicated that 306 individuals were formally detained, including 81 minors. Charges include assault on officers, theft, vandalism, and public order offenses. Additionally, 40 police officers sustained injuries.

The Paris police prefecture noted smaller disturbances in several locations, involving vandalism and the setting of fires to property. Some individuals attempted to storm a police station but were dispersed. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire praised the overall peaceful nature of the celebrations while strongly condemning the violent acts.

Last year’s celebration of PSG’s first Champions League win also saw disturbances with 201 individuals injured and over 500 arrests.