The jubilant celebrations that erupted in Paris following Paris Saint-Germain’s back-to-back Champions League triumph quickly spiraled out of control.
In response to the fervor that engulfed the city after PSG’s dramatic shootout victory over Arsenal on Saturday, Parisian authorities mobilized thousands of police officers in an effort to manage the teeming crowds.
Despite these measures, The Guardian reported that over 130 individuals were taken into custody by 11 p.m. local time, as skirmishes broke out at key locations across the French capital, prompting the use of tear gas by police.
“Our responsibility is to guarantee everyone a festive celebration that is calm and fully secure,” a police spokesperson conveyed to The Guardian, underscoring the aim to maintain a peaceful atmosphere amidst the revelry.
Unfortunately, the night was not without its disruptions. Reuters noted that the chaos resulted in damage to six vehicles and two storefronts.
The tension was particularly palpable outside PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium in western Paris, where a throng of over 40,000 fans had gathered to watch the championship match unfold on massive screens.
Dozens of fans marched near the Arc de Triomphe, with some wild fans aiming fireworks at the police who then responded with tear gas.
Smoke could be seen rising throughout multiple areas where the clashes occurred, with the main ring surrounding Paris being closed off by a crowd before police dispersed it, The Associated Press reported.
Laurent Nuñez, Minister of the Interior of France, told The Guardian that authorities had a “very robust, very solid system in place” to thwart the violence.
Some 22,000 police officers were deployed to maintain order in the French capital and avoid a repeat of last year, where two died and nearly 200 were injured because of riots following PSG’s first Champions League title victory over Inter Milan.
PSG became back-to-back European champions defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 tie after extra time.
“It’s incredible,” captain Marquinhos told reporters. “From the very first day of this season, the coach said it’s hard to win, and winning twice is even more difficult. So we all had to get back to work.
“That was the mentality.”
