France was rocked by both jubilant celebrations and violent unrest after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured their first-ever Champions League title with a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in Munich. The victory sparked nationwide festivities that unfortunately escalated into chaos, resulting in two fatalities, nearly 560 arrests, and widespread injuries.
According to the French Interior Ministry, a total of 559 people were arrested across the country, with 491 detained in Paris alone. Authorities deployed around 5,400 police officers in the capital, using tear gas, pepper spray, and water cannons to control unruly crowds, especially along the Champs-Élysées. The violence included vandalism, looting of shops, and setting vehicles on fire, with 692 fires reported nationwide, 264 involving cars.
Tragically, the two deaths occurred under separate circumstances linked to the celebrations. A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death during a street party in Dax, southwestern France, while a man in his twenties died in Paris after his scooter was hit by a car amid the festivities. Investigations are ongoing into both incidents.
The unrest also took a toll on security personnel, with around 22 police officers and seven firefighters injured. One officer remains in a coma after being struck by a firework.
Despite the violence, many fans enjoyed peaceful celebrations, including a large victory parade in Paris where PSG players met French President Emmanuel Macron, who congratulated the team on social media, calling it “a glorious day for PSG” and praising Paris as “the capital of Europe this evening.”
The events highlighted the dual nature of the celebrations ecstatic joy for a historic sporting achievement tempered by the destructive actions of a minority. Authorities continue to urge fans to celebrate responsibly as the city recovers from the aftermath of a night marked by both triumph and turmoil.
