Anti-riot police protect themselves from football fans on the Champs Elysees avenue after PSG won the Champions League final
Photo credit: Reuters
Two people were confirmed dead during celebrations in France following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) victory in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final on Saturday night.
More than 100 people were also arrested, and over 500 suffered varying injuries during the violence that erupted in the aftermath of the triumph.
The Parisiens crushed Inter Milan 5-0 in a one-sided final at the Allianz Arena in Munich to claim a first UCL title in the club’s history, prompting wild celebrations among supporters.
The streets of Paris, and indeed France, were filled with jubilating fans reveling in the French Ligue 1 champions’ historic win.
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Flares were set off, buses smashed, and cars engulfed in flames as the wild celebrations continued into the night, leading to widespread violence that has claimed two lives and left many with injuries.
The two lives lost include a 17-year-old boy in the town of Dax, stabbed in the chest, and a 23-year-old man riding a scooter, killed after being hit by a car in central Paris.
On Sunday, the interior ministry disclosed that 491 people were arrested in the capital after crowds converged on the Champs-Élysées avenue and clashes broke out with officers.
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It added that across France, a total of 559 people were arrested.
Bruno Retailleau, the French interior minister, took to X to reveal that security forces have been asked to react “vigorously”.
Les vrais supporters du PSG sont en train de s’enthousiasmer devant le magnifique match de leur équipe. Pendant ce temps là, des barbares sont venus dans les rues de Paris pour commettre des délits et provoquer les forces de l’ordre.
J’ai demandé aux forces de sécurité…
Advertisement— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) May 31, 2025
“I have asked the internal security forces to react vigorously to these abuses,” he wrote.
“I offer my support to the Police Prefect and all the police officers who are ensuring everyone’s safety this evening.
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“It is unbearable that it is not possible to party without fearing the savagery of a minority of thugs who respect nothing.”
PSG’s players and staff are expected to be joined by around 100,000 fans when they hold a victory parade on the Champs-Élysées this afternoon.
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