Paris Saint-Germain’s(PSG) stunning 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final sparked widespread jubilation and chaos in France. The Ministry of the Interior reported that 559 people were arrested nationwide, with 491 of those arrests occurring in Paris. Two fatalities were also reported: a scooter rider hit by a car in Paris’s 15th arrondissement and a 17-year-old stabbed in the southwestern town of Dax during celebrations.
Police clashed with fans on the Champs-Elysees, using water cannons to disperse crowds attempting to reach the Arc de Triomphe. “Troublemakers on the Champs-Elysees were looking to create incidents and repeatedly came into contact with police by throwing large fireworks and other objects,” police stated. Most arrests were related to illegal fireworks possession and disorderly conduct.
In Grenoble, a car crashed into fans celebrating PSG’s win, injuring four people from the same family, with two serious injuries. The driver, who tested negative for alcohol and drugs, handed himself in to police, and investigators believe the act may not have been intentional.
Despite the chaos, many fans celebrated peacefully. PSG supporter Clement, 20, expressed his joy, saying, “It’s so good and so deserved! We have a song that talks about our struggles, and it hasn’t always been easy. But we got our faith back this year with a team without stars. They’re 11 guys who play for each other.”
French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated the team, calling it a “day of glory for PSG”. The victory parade on the Champs-Elysees is expected to draw tens of thousands of supporters. A massive 11.5 million people watched the match across France, according to Mediametrie audience-measurement company and Canal+.
The PSG team was set to bask in the glory of their historic win as they prepared for a victory parade on the Champs-Elysees, with tens of thousands of supporters expected to gather and celebrate with the players.