Champions League celebrations turn violent in Paris: one dead, hundreds arrested, as PSG fans clash with police overnight

Victory and initial celebrations

PSG defeated Arsenal on penalties in Budapest on Saturday night to win the Champions League. In Paris, around 20,000 fans gathered at the Parc des Princes stadium and along the Champs-Élysées to celebrate, setting off flares and honking horns. The atmosphere was initially festive.

Violence escalates

As the night wore on, clashes broke out between police and groups of individuals, leading to fires, looting, and attacks. A police station in the 8th arrondissement was assaulted, and some individuals fired projectile launchers at law enforcement. Vehicles were set alight and shops were damaged.

The violence was absolutely unacceptable.

Death and injuries

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, one person died when a motorcyclist crashed into concrete blocks on a slip road of the Boulevard Périphérique at Porte Maillot. Another person was seriously injured; reports indicate a 17-year-old is in a coma after being stabbed during a brawl. Overall, 219 people were hurt, including 8 in serious condition. Between 7 and 57 police officers were also injured, depending on the source.

Arrests and police response

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that 780 individuals were detained across France, with 457 held in custody overnight. In Paris alone, between 300 and 480 were arrested. Nunez stated that the vast majority of celebrants behaved peacefully but that “a few individuals, who are not PSG fans but people who don’t even watch matches, came out to create incidents and disorder.”

We had gatherings in a festive mood across the country. The situation remained largely under control despite some excesses, which were routinely quelled by law enforcement.

Sunday’s parade and official events

Despite the violence, the planned victory parade on Sunday 31 May will go ahead. More than 22,000 police and gendarmes are being deployed for the event at Champ de Mars, where 100,000 people are expected. At 18:00 the PSG team will be received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, followed by a celebration at the Parc des Princes from 19:30.

We will not tolerate any excess or disorder. We will continue to exercise the utmost firmness.