A Night of Celebration Turns Turbulent
The final whistle blew in Budapest on Saturday night, and the streets of Paris erupted in a mixture of euphoria and chaos as Paris Saint‑Germain clinched the Champions League trophy.
Fans poured onto the Champs‑Élysées, where roughly 20,000 supporters gathered, while police worked to contain the crowd and prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.
The celebration quickly turned violent; seven officers were injured as groups set off fires, smashed shop windows and attempted to storm a police station in the upscale 8th Arrondissement.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the unrest, calling the attacks “absolutely unacceptable” and urging authorities to restore order.
According to the Paris police prefecture, more than 400 individuals were detained nationwide, with nearly 300 of those arrests occurring in Paris alone.
The planned festivities at the Champ de Mars, scheduled for Sunday afternoon near the Eiffel Tower, will go ahead as planned, with President Emmanuel Macron set to host the PSG squad at the Élysée Palace.
The episode marks the latest in a series of post‑victory disturbances; a year earlier, 201 people were injured and over 500 arrests were made across France after the club’s first domestic title.
Authorities say they remain on high alert, ready to intervene should the celebrations spill into further violence, while the nation watches to see whether the triumph can be enjoyed safely.