Clermont-Ferrand imposes overnight curfew on under-16s during World Cup after post-match riots

The curfew order

Mayor Julien Bony announced the measure on 9 June, days before the World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada and Mexico on 11 June. The curfew applies to unaccompanied minors under 16 across the expanded city centre, including Place Jaude, from 23:00 until 07:00. Violators face a fine of at least 150 euros. Bony described the order as primarily a protective measure for adolescents and a way to hold parents accountable.

I do not take this measure lightly, but I do it with full responsibility. It is first and foremost a protective measure for the youngest and a measure that puts the onus on parents.

What triggered the decision

The mayor cited two specific episodes of urban violence. On 30 May, riots broke out after Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League victory. The following Friday, a second outbreak occurred after a call circulated on social media. Bony said about a hundred young people aged 12 to 17 were involved in that incident, with around ten arrests. He described the scenes as "excesses, degradation, abuses, and violence against law enforcement."

Minors have no business being on the street at that hour. It is no longer acceptable for hordes of minors to attack our law enforcement officers or restaurant terraces.

No outdoor screenings

Alongside the curfew, the city has banned all outdoor broadcasts of World Cup matches. Public viewing events will not be authorised, even if France reaches the final. Bar owners must turn any outdoor screens to face the interior of their establishments to prevent crowds gathering in the streets. A separate municipal decree will also prohibit alcohol consumption in public spaces after 22:00 during the summer period.

Broader context

Nationwide, nearly 900 arrests were made after the PSG Champions League victory, with unrest reported in many French cities including Clermont-Ferrand. Authorities suspect that perpetrators beyond regular football fans were involved in the violence. The incidents have reignited a public debate in France about the destruction and disorder that frequently overshadow celebrations after sporting events and large demonstrations. Some French cities had already imposed temporary nighttime curfews for minors, particularly to curb violence linked to drug trafficking.

We had to act so that the World Cup does not become a new pretext for this kind of excess.

What happens next

The municipal decree was drawn up after consultation with the prefecture and is expected to be signed by the end of the week. Bony, a centre-right politician who won the Auvergne capital from the Socialists in March, made security a campaign theme and plans to arm the municipal police.