More than 400 people were arrested overnight after widespread unrest erupted following Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Arsenal in the Champions League final. Tens of thousands of fans of the French club celebrated their team’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over Mikel Arteta’s Gunners yesterday.
Sadly, things turned nasty quickly with some fans setting off flares and fireworks, while e-bikes were seen being torched in Paris. Rioters also damaged six vehicles, two businesses and a bus shelter in violence that took place across the EU country, according to French police.
Interior Minister Condemns Unrest
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez branded the unrest ‘absolutely unacceptable’ as he revealed that seven officers had been injured in the violence. As order was restored today, police said they had made 416 arrests, including 280 people in Paris.
The clashes were a sad repeat of last year’s violence when supporters of the French team caused chaos after winning the same trophy. Authorities had braced themselves in advance and thousands of police officers were deployed across France to curb any unrest. Nuñez said they had a ‘very robust, very solid system in place’.
Clashes Before the Final
Before the violence erupted overnight, there had been clashes between police and PSG supporters at the club’s Parc des Princes, where the club had erected giant screens for them to watch the final, which took place in Budapest.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote on X: ‘Only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots. Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on the evening of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence.’
Players are due to take part in a victory parade this afternoon, which includes touring the Champ-de-Mars next to the Eiffel Tower and a reception held by French President Emmanuel Macron.
