Celebrations marking French football club Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League title escalated into widespread violence, leaving one person dead and 780 arrested across France amid vehicle arson, shop vandalism and clashes with police.
According to The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse on May 31, tens of thousands of fans poured into the streets immediately after PSG clinched the Champions League final the previous day. While most celebrations were peaceful, unrest broke out in multiple locations as some crowds turned violent.
Clashes were concentrated along the Champs-Élysées in Paris and near Parc des Princes, PSG's home stadium. Some fans set off fireworks and flares, torched vehicles and damaged shops. Police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds, and intense standoffs continued in several areas.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said at a press conference that 57 police officers and 219 civilians were injured, with some sustaining serious wounds.
There were also fatalities. The Paris prosecutor's office said a young man was killed in a motocross motorcycle accident on the Paris ring road. Another person was reported to be in critical condition after being stabbed.
Immediately after the victory, around 20,000 fans gathered on the Champs-Élysées. Some occupied roads and tried to block traffic, while smaller groups reportedly attempted to attack police stations. Traffic was briefly paralyzed on parts of the Paris ring road.
French authorities had deployed about 22,000 police officers nationwide ahead of the final. Although they concentrated forces in key areas of Paris and adjusted some public transportation services, they were unable to fully prevent the simultaneous clashes that erupted right after the victory.
The violence spread beyond Paris to about 15 cities across France. In Paris alone, 480 people were arrested, and prosecutors said 277 of them were being held in custody for questioning. Of those detained, 82 were minors, reportedly facing charges including assaulting police officers, theft, vandalism and public disorder offenses.
Marine Le Pen, a lawmaker from the far-right National Rally (RN), criticized the government's security response on social media, saying, "A football team's victory is turning into a riot."
Still, French authorities decided to proceed with the planned PSG victory celebrations. The PSG squad is scheduled to celebrate with fans at the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower in Paris before visiting the Élysée Palace to be congratulated by President Emmanuel Macron.
"Celebrations took place peacefully in most areas," Nuñez said, adding, "We will respond firmly if further unrest occurs."
