780 arrested in France following violent riots after PSG’s Champions League victory against Arsenal, one person found dead
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) celebrated their second consecutive Champions League title after overcoming Arsenal in a penalty shootout, which resulted in widespread violence across France.Following the match, 780 individuals were detained amid clashes between fans and police, resulting in one fatality on the Paris ring road.
Fatal unrest
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 219 injuries, including eight individuals in critical condition, while 57 police officers sustained injuries during the riots.
Most arrests occurred in the Paris region, with 480 people detained, including 82 minors accused of various offences such as assault and vandalism.
Tensions escalated on the Champs-Élysées as around 20,000 fans gathered for the match, igniting fireworks and flares, which led to police deploying tear gas in response to projectiles.
Cars were set alight and shops vandalised while police struggled to manage the situation with a total of 22,000 officers dispatched to the area.
Reports of a death emerged after rioters attempted to obstruct the Paris ring road during the unrest.
In Budapest, violence broke out prior to the match when around 60 fans from both clubs clashed, prompting police to investigate and capture several individuals.
PSG ultimately triumphed in the match, winning 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, marking a historic achievement in European football.
Nuñez stated the situation was under control but condemned the violence as “absolutely unacceptable”, noting that previous celebrations had similarly resulted in numerous injuries.
Problems in Paris pic.twitter.com/KOU8r5UF4S
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Match fallout
The aftermath of this year’s celebrations surpassed the previous year’s figures of 201 injuries and over 500 arrests following PSG’s first Champions League title win.
