A wave of celebrations across France following Paris Saint-Germain’s historic victory in the Champions League has resulted in tragic incidents, including two fan fatalities and a police officer in a critical condition. Reports from authorities indicate that while many festivities were peaceful, some areas experienced violent outbursts.
During the celebrations, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated in the club’s colours, and fans filled the streets into the early hours. However, in the western city of Dax, a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a street party, and a man in his twenties perished in Paris after a car collided with his scooter amidst the celebrations.
Additionally, a police officer was severely injured by fireworks at a gathering in Coutances and is now in an artificial coma due to significant eye trauma. The Paris police chief confirmed that 192 people were injured in the capital, four of whom required serious medical attention.
The atmosphere turned chaotic shortly after the championship game in Munich, where police struggled to manage the crowd as fans poured onto the pitch celebrating their team’s win. Ultimately, PSG players returned to the field to uplift fans once order was restored.
As the club planned a grand victory parade along the Champs-Élysées, attracting an expected crowd of 110,000, security was tightened in response to the violence. This measure is likely to impact ongoing events nearby, including the French Open.
Nightly celebrations saw police deploy crowd control measures, including tear gas and water cannons, to disperse disruptive groups. Reports of looting at four shops surfaced, and emergency services were overwhelmed with calls, as they dealt with numerous incidents, including arson of rubbish bins.
By early Sunday morning, 294 arrests had been made, including a group that broke into a shoe shop on the Champs-Élysées, with several cars set ablaze near the club’s stadium. In more celebratory locales, like the Place de la Bastille, fans climbed onto historical monuments, igniting flares and joining in raucous chants.
Police chief Laurent Nunez attributed the unrest to violent individuals who sought to disrupt the joyful occasion. He noted that such disturbances had marred previous celebrations, such as after France’s 2018 World Cup victory. Despite the disorder, many fans continued to revel in the victory and support their team during the festivities.