Riots Erupt in Paris After PSG’s Champions League Victory
Riots took place in Paris shortly after Paris Saint-Germain triumphed over Arsenal in Saturday’s Champions League final.
Update 5/31 1110: One individual has died and another is in critical condition following the chaotic celebrations.
During a press conference on Sunday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that a 24-year-old man lost his life in a scooter accident on the Paris ring road. Additionally, a 17-year-old was stabbed in the 16th arrondissement and is now hospitalized in serious condition.
Nuñez reported a total of 780 arrests across France related to the Champions League final, marking a 30% increase from last year.
Updated 5/31 0145: Hundreds arrested nationwide.
At least 416 individuals were arrested in France on Sunday, with 283 of those in Paris, according to Nuñez. Seven police officers sustained injuries during the riots, with one in serious condition.
Nuñez stated that looting incidents occurred in 15 cities, including multiple cases in Grenoble, Strasbourg, and Rennes, alongside clashes with law enforcement and instances of arson.
In spite of the upheaval, a government official mentioned that plans for a victory celebration on the Champ de Mars on Sunday would continue as scheduled.
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PSG secured a 4-3 victory over Arsenal in a penalty shootout in Budapest, claiming their second consecutive European title. However, these wins seem to foreshadow a repetition of last year’s disorder that followed their win against Milan.
The initial confrontations arose as police appeared to take preventative measures to disperse growing crowds on the Champs-Elysées and at the Saint-Cloud gate. Numerous fires were set around the city, particularly near the Eiffel Tower.
Currently, there have been 45 arrests, 89 fines issued, and hundreds of mortar explosives confiscated. Additionally, at least one police officer was hurt in the 16th district, where both a bakery and a restaurant were destroyed.
Minister Nuñez is bracing for potential further unrest and has mobilized 22,000 officers and military police for Saturday’s operations, including 8,000 in Paris, where the Roland Garros tennis tournament and three significant concerts are all happening at once.
“This event could lead to major celebrations and considerable public safety issues,” Nuñez remarked recently, referencing the past urban violence that erupted after last year’s Champions League final.
“Any disruption will lead to intervention. There’s no question about that,” he assured.
The violence from 2025 resulted in nearly 500 arrests in Paris alone, with two fatalities and over 190 injuries, alongside numerous fires set throughout the country. This situation has been frequently linked to France’s evolving multicultural dynamics. National Assembly leader Jourdan Bardera expressed concern over Paris becoming a “playground for thugs” and lamented the damage to France’s global image.
Then-Interior Minister Bruno Lutailot condemned the violence after PSG’s win against Milan, calling the actions “barbaric.”
Former French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen commented on Saturday’s riots, noting, “Only in France does a football club’s victory provoke a riot. It’s as though people feel compelled to stay indoors on a night of victory to avoid violence.” She added, “Despite the heavy security measures, the French can no longer endure escalating chaos at the slightest occasion.”
