Celebrations in the French capital over Paris Saint-Germain’s historic UEFA Champions League victory spiraled into chaos on Saturday night, as violent riots broke out near the club’s home stadium, Parc des Princes. Authorities confirmed that at least 81 individuals were arrested following clashes between rioters and police.
Thousands of fans had gathered near the stadium to cheer on PSG during their final against Inter Milan. The festive mood quickly turned sour as unrest erupted, with groups of youths clashing with police, vehicles set on fire, and projectiles hurled at law enforcement officers.
According to witnesses and videos circulating on social media, baton-wielding riot police attempted to control the situation as fires blazed across several areas near the stadium. Roads were cordoned off earlier in the evening to accommodate large public screenings of the match, but the event descended into disorder after the game.
The French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau strongly condemned the violence, writing on social media:
Retailleau stated that he had instructed internal security forces to respond firmly and extended his support to the Police Prefect and officers managing the situation on the ground.
While no major injuries were immediately reported, the incident has sparked concerns about crowd management and public safety during major sporting celebrations. Fire brigades were deployed to multiple sites to extinguish blazes, and a heavy police presence remained in the area overnight.
PSG’s Champions League victory, a monumental moment for the club, was marred by the violence, turning what should have been a night of celebration into one of fear and destruction for many Parisians.
Sources By Agencies
