International Sports
Hundreds arrested as PSG Champions League celebrations turn violent in Paris
According to France’s Interior Ministry, 416 people were arrested nationwide, including 283 in Paris alone, as authorities responded to multiple incidents of disorder linked to the celebrations.
French police arrested hundreds of people overnight after celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph descended into violence in parts of Paris and other cities across France.
Thousands of supporters took to the streets following PSG’s dramatic victory over Arsenal in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday evening. The win secured the Paris club’s second consecutive European crown, making PSG only the second team in the modern Champions League era to successfully defend the title.
According to France’s Interior Ministry, 416 people were arrested nationwide, including 283 in Paris alone, as authorities responded to multiple incidents of disorder linked to the celebrations.
Large crowds gathered along the Champs-Élysées and around the Arc de Triomphe, where fans waved flags, set off flares and fireworks, and celebrated into the night. While most supporters marked the occasion peacefully, police reported that smaller groups engaged in vandalism, looting and arson.
Authorities said several vehicles were set on fire, shops were damaged, and fires were started in different parts of the capital. One police officer was reported injured during the disturbances.
Police also dispersed a group that attempted to storm a police station in Paris’s 8th arrondissement. By late evening, dozens of people had already been taken into custody as security forces moved to restore order.
The city’s main ring road was temporarily blocked by celebrating supporters before police cleared the area. Officers also intervened near PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, where around 1,000 fans had gathered and erected makeshift barricades using bicycles and other objects.
French authorities had deployed large numbers of security personnel in anticipation of mass celebrations, mindful of the scenes that followed PSG’s first Champions League triumph in 2025. Last year, more than 500 people were arrested nationwide and over 200 people were injured in Paris during celebrations.
Despite the unrest, PSG supporters across France celebrated a historic achievement for the club, which has now established itself among Europe’s elite by winning back-to-back Champions League titles.