A vast assembly of Paris Saint-Germain enthusiasts congregated peacefully near the iconic Eiffel Tower on Sunday to revel in the club’s triumph as Champions League victors. This joyous occasion, however, was overshadowed by violent skirmishes across France the previous night, resulting in the detention of hundreds by law enforcement.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that police detained 780 individuals across Paris and other cities, with 57 officers sustaining mostly minor injuries during the unrest. The disturbances were triggered by football fans who resorted to arson and vandalism overnight.
At a Sunday news briefing, Nuñez assured the public that “the situation has been largely brought under control.” He emphasized that the majority of the celebrations in the French capital unfolded without incident, although trouble flared in the Champs Elysees area and near the Parc des Princes stadium, where supporters had gathered to watch the match.
Following Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Arsenal in a gripping penalty shootout in Budapest, Hungary, jubilant fans filled the streets of Paris on Saturday night. Supporters paraded along the avenues surrounding the Arc de Triomphe, igniting flares and sounding car horns. Approximately 20,000 people amassed on the Champs-Elysees, prompting police efforts to manage the throng.
Despite the previous night’s disturbances, the planned celebrations took place as intended at the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower on Sunday afternoon. Minister Nuñez issued a stern warning that any further violence would be met with “firmness and determination” by the police.
Planned celebrations for the team’s win on Sunday afternoon at the Champ de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower, went ahead as scheduled. Nunez warned that police would respond with “firmness and determination” to any potential violence.
With the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, up to 100,000 supporters showed up at the event that was placed under high security measures. Returning from Budapest late, PSG players – led by captain Marquinhos, coach Luis Enrique and club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi – were greeted by cheering crowds as the club anthem blared from loudspeakers. The players took turns lifting the trophy aloft, relishing their heroes’ welcome back home.
Macron appeals for an end to violence
The team was then hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee presidential palace. Macron condemned the violence.
“I don’t want that we get used to it,” Macron said at the ceremony. “This is not soccer, this is not sport, this is not what we love. We will be uncompromising with those who have been caught. We do not want to see this happen again. It’s over. We’ve had enough. This must end.”
Nuñez said incidents took place in about 15 cities in France, describing “one to two” shops vandalized in each other than Paris. He said 780 people were detained in all, with 480 of them in the Paris area alone.
Police also intervened five times overnight to prevent people from blocking traffic on the main ring road around Paris, he said. In one accident, a driver lost control of a car that rammed into a restaurant’s terrace, leaving two people wounded including one seriously, Nuñez said. We will be uncompromising with those who have been caught. We do not want to see this happen again. It’s over. We’ve had enough. This must end.
Paris police detain hundreds
The Paris prosecutors’ office said 306 people have been formally taken into police custody, including 81 minors, for alleged offences. Most were for assault of police officers while other allegations include theft, vandalism and disturbing the public order. Some 40 police officers were injured.
The Paris police prefecture said smaller groups caused disturbances in various locations, with some vandalizing shops and setting fires to garbage and self-service bicycles in the streets. Cars were also set ablaze. Some who attempted to storm a police station in the posh 8th Arrondissement neighborhood were dispersed, police said.
“The vast majority of Parisians celebrated it with joy, unity, and respect,” Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said on Sunday in a message on X, while condemning violence “in the strongest possible terms.”
Following PSG’s first Champions League title win in May 2025, 201 people were injured in the French capital and police made more than 500 arrests across France.
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