PARIS – In the wake of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph, French authorities apprehended over 400 individuals following violent disturbances in Paris and other cities across the nation on Saturday night.
According to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, seven police officers sustained injuries as fervent football supporters ignited fires and vandalized storefronts. He condemned the disorder as “absolutely unacceptable,” noting that a small faction even attempted to breach a police station in Paris.
Rioting was reported in approximately 15 cities throughout France, with nearly 400 detentions overall, nearly 300 of which occurred in Paris, Nuñez stated.
Despite the unrest, celebrations for PSG’s victory are set to proceed as planned on Sunday afternoon at the Champ de Mars near the iconic Eiffel Tower. Following the public celebrations, the team is scheduled to be received by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.
After PSG clinched victory against Arsenal in a penalty shootout in Budapest, Hungary, fans in Paris erupted into celebration on Saturday evening.
Supporters flooded the streets near the Arc de Triomphe, lighting flares and sounding car horns in jubilation. An estimated 20,000 individuals congregated on the Champs-Elysees, where police efforts were focused on managing the large crowd.
The Paris police prefecture said smaller groups caused disturbances in various locations, with some vandalizing shops and setting fires. Cars were also set ablaze. Those who attempted to storm a police station in the posh 8th Arrondissement neighborhood were dispersed, police said.
In May last year following PSG’s first title, 201 people were injured in the French capital and police made more than 500 arrests across France.
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