PSG's second Champions League title sparks mass arrests and street clashes across Paris
At least 336 people were arrested across France, with 235 detained in Paris alone, as celebrations for Paris Saint-Germain's second consecutive Champions League victory descended into clashes with police, vehicle fires, and looting.
Victory and violence
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time in the Champions League final held in Budapest. The victory marked the club's second consecutive European title, making them the only French club to achieve the feat. The Élysée Palace praised the team, stating the win "rewards the effort and talent of all the players, as well as the work of the technical staff led by Luis Enrique."
Mass gatherings and security deployment
An estimated 20,000 fans gathered on the Champs-Élysées to watch the match, with thousands more flooding the avenue after the final whistle. Near the Parc des Princes, where a giant screen broadcast the game, the stadium was nearly full with between 40,000 and 48,000 spectators. French authorities, seeking to avoid a repeat of last year's deadly celebrations, mobilized 22,000 police and gendarmes nationwide, including 8,000 in Paris and its metropolitan area.
Clashes and arrests
Violence erupted in multiple locations, including the Champs-Élysées, near the Parc des Princes, and at the Place de la République. Police used tear gas against hooded individuals who threw projectiles and fireworks. One officer was injured by a firework. Arrest figures varied across sources: early reports cited 13 arrests, later rising to 45, then 79, 140, 235 in Paris, and finally 336 nationwide according to a provisional toll. Around 100 firework mortars and 24 smoke bombs were seized.
Property damage and looting
Rioters set vehicles, a truck, and rubbish bins on fire. Two shops—a bakery and a restaurant—were looted near Porte de Saint-Cloud, and six vehicles were damaged. A bus shelter was vandalized on Rue de la Boétie, a kiosk was torched near the Champs-Élysées, and approximately 150 people attempted to storm the PSG stadium. There was also an attempt to attack a police station in the 8th arrondissement.
Official celebrations planned
Despite the unrest, Paris City Hall expects nearly 100,000 people in the city on Sunday afternoon for official celebrations. A parade is planned in the Champ de Mars area around the Eiffel Tower, followed by a reception at the Élysée Palace hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at 18:00 local time. The presidency added, "A few days before the 2026 World Cup, this success highlights the excellence of French football."
- 13 people arrested near Parc des Princes; 45 detained overall
- At least 140 people detained; vehicles and bins set on fire, shops looted
- 45 arrests, over 130 identified; one officer injured; 24 rockets and ~100 fireworks seized
- Around 80 people arrested, 45 taken into police custody
- At least 79 detained and one officer injured in Paris (provisional toll)
- 235 detained in Paris, 416 nationwide; two shops looted, six vehicles damaged
- At least 336 detained across France, 235 in Paris; one officer injured by firework
Echoes of last year
Last year, when PSG won its first Champions League title, two people died and nearly 200 were injured across France, including a police officer who fell into a coma. At that time, 500 people were arrested in Paris alone. This year's reinforced security operation aimed to prevent similar tragedies, but the disturbances still concentrated on the capital's most famous avenue.
