Spanish
The night of celebrations for Paris Saint Germain (PSG)'s historic victory against Inter Milan (5-0) in the Champions League final held in Munich was marred by a wave of disturbances and violence, which left at least two dead and over 500 arrested.
This Sunday, French President, Emmanuel Macron, who received the players at the Élysée Palace, condemned the incidents: “Nothing can justify what happened in the last few hours, violent clashes are unacceptable”, stated the president before congratulating the team.
“We will move forward, we will punish, we will be relentless,” he added.
The known victims so far are a 17-year-old minor in Dax, after being stabbed in the chest during the night of Saturday, and a young man of about 20 years old in Paris, who was run over while riding a scooter in the XV district. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled for fear of reprisals, but shortly after surrendered to the police, who proceeded to arrest him.
The event was recorded by a person who was near the scene, and the shocking images, which show the precise moment of the hit-and-run, went viral on social media.Meanwhile, a police officer remains in an induced coma after a firecracker hit him in the La Mancha department, while the French capital recorded most of the riots and arrests.
The injury toll included another 22 members of the security forces and seven firefighters. Among the injured officers, one suffered a dislocated shoulder, another broke his leg after a motorcycle fall, a third was injured in the eye by a piece of glass, and another suffered a muscle tear in his leg.
The riots also caused 692 fires, of which 264 affected vehicles. The police intervened in the assault on a shoe store, where they arrested about 30 people. Businesses on the Champs-Élysées and in cities like Annemasse (Haute-Savoie), Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) and Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) suffered material damage. The media outlet Le Dauphiné Libéré underlined that “several businesses along the Champs-Élysées have noted material damage.” According to the Paris Police Prefecture, 559 people were arrested across the country during the wave of riots. The epicenter of the incidents was Paris, with 491 arrests, and 320 people were brought before the courts, of whom 254 were in the capital. In addition, 192 injuries and two deaths were reported in the context of the celebrations, although the authorities are still investigating whether both deaths are directly related to the riots. The security apparatus deployed in Paris included 5,400 officers, according to the Police Prefecture, which had already reported 59 arrests before the end of the match. The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, urged the security forces to act firmly against those responsible for the riots, whom he called “barbarians and thugs.” In a message on the X network, he expressed: “I offer my support to the police prefect and to all police officers who are ensuring the safety of everyone. It is unbearable that it is not possible to celebrate without fearing the savagery of a minority of thugs who respect nothing.”The Prime Minister, François Bayrou, also spoke on X, sending a message of encouragement to law enforcement: “May the celebration be beautiful and may everyone watch over the safety of all.”
The president of the far-right National Rally, Jordan Bardella, criticized the recurring violence in popular celebrations in France and lamented the negative impact on the country's image. On his X account, he stated: “As happens in every popular celebration, the capital of France becomes a playground for scum.” And he added: “Always the same profiles and always the same state impotence. It is no longer just a serious problem of insecurity: it is the whole image of France that is tarnished in the world.”
From the left-wing opposition, the deputy of La France Insoumise, Antoine Léaument, shared images of the scenes of tension and criticized the security apparatus implemented by Retailleau. Léaument stated on X: “Bruno Retailleau organizes chaos with tear gas on the Champs-Élysées. The barbarian is him.” The deputy added: “To be clear: it is reprehensible that there are people who take advantage of the numbers to try to loot businesses. They must be stopped. But launching tear gas at peaceful people makes no sense.”
Finally, this Sunday, the European champions were received in the capital to celebrate the title with the fans. The team led by Luis Enrique first visited the Élysée Palace and then paraded through the streets of Paris. The authorities maintained strict surveillance in the face of the possibility of new incidents during these events.
The police deployment and the authorities' response have generated political debate. While the government defends the actions of law enforcement, sectors of the opposition criticize the use of tear gas and the management of security. The media outlet Le Dauphiné Libéré highlighted the polarization of political and social reactions following the disturbances.
In total, the night of celebrations for Paris Saint-Germain's victory left a balance of hundreds of detainees, dozens of injured, two deaths, and significant material damage in several cities in France. The authorities are continuing to investigate the incidents and have promised to reinforce security measures for the upcoming events related to the Parisian club's triumph.
