PARIS, June 2 — Celebrations turned chaotic across France after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) clinched their first-ever UEFA Champions League title with a stunning 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich on Saturday evening.
While the win sparked nationwide euphoria, authorities were forced to intervene as celebrations descended into widespread disorder, with over 579 people arrested across the weekend and violence marring the festivities.
Second Night of Unrest
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Paris police chief Laurent Nunez confirmed that 79 people were detained on Sunday, during a second wave of unrest following PSG’s parade along the Champs Élysées and celebrations at the Parc des Princes.
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“We saw a resurgence of individuals driven by malicious intent who were not really PSG supporters,” Nunez told RTL Radio.
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Detainees included individuals who blocked roads, vandalized businesses, and fired fireworks in public areas.
Saturday Night: Widespread Violence
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The French Interior Ministry reported more than 500 arrests nationwide on Saturday night.
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Over 200 cars were torched, and police faced off with youths in violent clashes.
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Tragic incidents included:
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A 17-year-old boy fatally stabbed in Dax.
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A 23-year-old man on a scooter killed in a traffic collision in central Paris.
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A policeman placed in an induced coma after being seriously injured by a firework.
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Government Reaction
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At the Élysée Palace on Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the victorious PSG squad but condemned the violence as “unacceptable.”
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Macron praised the players—many of whom hail from working-class Paris suburbs—while expressing concern about public safety.
Record Viewership
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The match drew a massive TV audience, with 11.5 million viewers tuning in across France to witness PSG’s historic win.
Though PSG’s long-awaited triumph in Europe’s top football competition brought pride to fans and the nation, the surrounding violence has ignited debate over security and the challenges of managing mass public celebrations in urban France.
