Following the UEFA Champions League final and Paris Saint-Germain’s championship victory, clashes broke out between some football fans and police forces in various parts of France, resulting in the arrest of more than 400 people.
France’s Interior Ministry announced that 416 people were arrested during the unrest in the early hours of Sunday, May 31, with 280 of them detained in Paris. Security officials reported the large-scale deployment of police forces to maintain order.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the incidents as “completely unacceptable” and said that seven police officers were injured during the clashes. He emphasized that security forces would continue their efforts to preserve public order.
The UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal ended 1–1 after regular and extra time. Paris Saint-Germain eventually defeated Arsenal 4–3 in the penalty shootout to win the European title.
The match was held at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, and attracted widespread interest from football fans across Europe.
After the match, Paris’s Champs-Élysées witnessed large gatherings of supporters celebrating in the streets. French and international media reported that thousands of police officers had been deployed throughout the city to ensure security and prevent unrest.
According to reports, some individuals threw fireworks and set off flares. Police used tear gas in parts of central Paris to disperse crowds.
The disturbances disrupted parts of the public transportation system, including buses, trains, and rail services. French police also reported that six vehicles, two businesses, and one bus stop were damaged during the violence.
Earlier, around Paris’s Parc des Princes stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered to watch the match on giant screens, clashes were also reported between some spectators and police officers.
This marks Paris Saint-Germain’s second consecutive UEFA Champions League title. Last year, celebrations following the club’s victory in several French cities were also accompanied by unrest, resulting in two deaths and hundreds of arrests.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party, reacted to the events on the social media platform X, saying that the transformation of a football team’s victory into widespread unrest was a worrying issue for French society.
Paris Saint-Germain players are scheduled to take part in the team’s championship parade in Paris on May 31. The event will include a victory procession through the Champ de Mars area near the Eiffel Tower and a meeting with Emmanuel Macron.
Previously, on May 7, when Paris Saint-Germain qualified for the Champions League final, 127 people were arrested in Paris during street celebrations.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
