Celebrations across France following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) historic Champions League final win were marred by significant unrest, resulting in tragedy and numerous arrests. According to the French interior ministry, two individuals lost their lives amidst the widespread jubilant but often chaotic scenes that erupted after the club secured the coveted European title for the first time.
In the southwestern town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy tragically died after being stabbed in the chest late on Saturday evening, as reported by local media outlets. Separately, in central Paris, a 23-year-old man riding a scooter was killed after being struck by a vehicle, the prosecutor’s office confirmed. These fatalities cast a dark shadow over what should have been a purely joyous occasion for PSG supporters.
As news of PSG’s victory spread, wild celebrations broke out, during which flares and fireworks were set off. Regrettably, these celebrations devolved into vandalism in some areas, with reports of bus shelters being smashed and vehicles deliberately set on fire. Despite these incidents, PSG issued a statement condemning the violence, emphasizing that such “isolated acts are contrary to the club’s values.”
French President Emmanuel Macron described the clashes as “unacceptable” and “unjustifiable,” vowing that those responsible for the disorder would be identified and punished. Despite the overnight disturbances, PSG’s planned victory parade in central Paris proceeded on Sunday afternoon, albeit with a heightened presence of both police and military personnel to manage the large crowds. Authorities had set a limit of 100,000 fans for the event along the Champs-Élysées.
France’s interior ministry provided figures indicating the scale of the unrest, stating that 192 people were injured in the clashes in the early hours of Sunday, and a total of 559 individuals were arrested, with 491 of those arrests occurring in Paris. Among those injured were 22 police officers and seven firefighters. The ministry also reported that 264 vehicles were set ablaze during the night. Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez acknowledged that while the overall toll was lower than in past similar events, such abuse was intolerable.
Despite the pockets of violence, including instances of looting around the Champs-Élysées, where approximately 30 arrests were made near a robbed Foot Locker, it’s important to note that the majority of PSG fans celebrated peacefully. Many supporters engaged in singing, dancing in the streets, and celebratory honking of car horns. The Eiffel Tower was even illuminated in PSG’s team colors of blue and red, symbolizing the city’s pride in their team’s achievement.
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