Police make 416 arrests as PSG’s Champions League celebrations flip bitter in Paris
French police have confirmed they made 416 arrests as PSG’s celebrations quickly turned sour after the Parisian giants beat Arsenal in the Champions League final
PSG celebrations turned sour(Image: Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
French police made 416 arrests in the early hours of Sunday morning as PSG’s Champions League celebrations turned sour after their victory over Arsenal.
The Parisian giants needed to come from behind after Kai Havertz’s early goal in Budapest. Ousmane Dembele equalised from the spot, and the game went to penalties with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel fluffing their lines from the spot.
And as celebrations erupted in the French capital, with PSG going back-to-back on Europe’s biggest stage, thousands of officers were deployed to curb unrest that impacted disrupted bus, train and rail services as celebrations started to turn sour in the streets.
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Fireworks and flares were set off as police officers were injured while deploying tear gas to try to disperse the crowds that had gathered in the city centre.
The Champs-Élysées was filled with Parisian fans and red smoke, as football fans flocked to the iconic boulevard. Videos appeared on social media of the celebrations that quickly turned to unrest as clashes with police went viral.
According to the French authorities, 416 had been arrested in the early hours of Sunday, including 280 people in Paris.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez called the unrest “absolutely unacceptable.” He added there was a “very robust, very solid system in place” to curb violence.
While a police spokesperson said: “Our responsibility is to guarantee everyone a festive celebration that is calm and fully secure.”
Far-right politician Marine Le Pen said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “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.”
PSG players are expected back in the capital on Sunday as part of their victory parade.
The route will see them travel from the Champ-de-Mars next to the Eiffel Tower as well as a reception held by French President Emmanuel Macron.
