PSG Win Sparks Deadly Riots Across France
It started as a night of glory. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had finally done it — a thunderous 5-0 win over Inter Milan secured their first UEFA Champions League title, and fans across France erupted into euphoria. The Eiffel Tower glowed red and blue, streets buzzed with cheers, and fireworks lit the sky.
But as midnight edged into early morning, celebration gave way to chaos.
What Happened
On Saturday night in Munich, PSG made history. The French club, long seen as title hopefuls, dominated the final in a match watched by millions.
Back home, massive crowds gathered — particularly around the Champs-Élysées and the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris — to mark the long-awaited victory.
Anticipating large crowds, authorities deployed more than 5,000 police officers throughout the capital and surrounding suburbs.
But despite the heavy presence, scattered incidents of violence escalated quickly.
The Human Toll
Two people died during the celebrations. In the southwestern town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the chest amid a street party.
Dax Mayor Julien Dubois posted online that his "thoughts are with the young victim, his family and friends," adding that authorities must "quickly shed light on these facts in order to severely punish the perpetrator," according to the BBC.
In Paris, a 23-year-old man riding a scooter was struck and killed by a vehicle amid the celebrations. French police confirmed the circumstances are still under investigation.
Meanwhile, a police officer in Coutances suffered severe eye injuries after being struck by a firework and was placed in an induced coma. Authorities said the officer had been assisting with crowd control far from his usual jurisdiction.
Violence and Vandalism
Nationwide, at least 559 arrests were made, including 491 in Paris, according to the French interior ministry.
The BBC reported that 192 people were injured, 22 of them police officers, along with seven firefighters.
Firefighters were overwhelmed, responding to more than 260 torched vehicles and numerous garbage can fires. The fire hotline was reportedly saturated by early Sunday morning.
In addition to four looted stores, 30 people were arrested for breaking into a Foot Locker on the Champs-Élysées.
Riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds near the Arc de Triomphe.
According to the BBC, Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez said, "The toll is lower than what we have seen in the past, but we will never get used to this kind of abuse, with people who only came to commit acts of vandalism and who did not even watch the match, and we will always have a very firm response."
The Broader Pattern
This isn't the first time PSG's victories have been marred by violence. Following their Champions League semifinal win in May, over 40 people were arrested and others injured in similar unrest.
In past years, PSG matches have triggered clashes — including a fatal police shooting during a 2006 confrontation and a mass brawl in 2001 that left 50 injured.
What Comes Next
Despite the destruction, the team pressed forward with a massive victory parade. Up to 110,000 people were permitted along the Champs-Élysées, where PSG players rode past in an open-top bus.
Later that evening, the celebration continued at Parc des Princes with a concert, light show, and presentation of the Champions League trophy.
President Emmanuel Macron praised the win on social media but denounced the clashes as "unacceptable," saying those responsible will be found and punished, according to the BBC.
As fans recover from the whiplash of jubilation and disorder, questions remain about how to balance national pride with public safety — and whether future victories can avoid turning tragic.
References: Two Dead, More Than 700 Arrested or Injured During Soccer Celebrations | Celebrations After PSG's Champions League Win Turn Deadly as 2 Fans Killed, Cop in Coma | Two Dead and Hundreds Arrested in France After PSG Champions League Win
