45 Arrested As PSG Champions League Celebrations Turn Violent In Paris
- Paris police detained 45 people after disorder broke out during celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph.
- A police officer was injured while authorities responded to vandalism, fires and an attempted storming of a police station.
- Around 20,000 supporters gathered on the Champs-Elysees after PSG secured their second European title.
Paris police arrested 45 people on Saturday night after violence and public disorder disrupted celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final victory over Arsenal.
Thousands of supporters flooded the streets of the French capital after PSG secured their second Champions League title with a dramatic penalty shootout win in Budapest, Hungary.
Celebrations began peacefully as fans gathered around some of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, including the Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. Supporters waved flags, set off flares and sounded car horns as they marked another historic night for the club.
Authorities estimated that around 20,000 people assembled on the Champs-Elysees alone, with a significant police presence deployed to monitor the festivities and maintain order.
However, as the evening progressed, smaller groups were involved in a series of disturbances across the city.
According to the Paris police prefecture, some individuals vandalised businesses, damaged property and started fires in various locations. One police officer was injured during the incidents.
Police also reported that a group attempted to storm a police station in the city’s affluent 8th Arrondissement district. Officers quickly intervened and dispersed those involved.
By 10 p.m. local time, authorities confirmed that 45 people had been taken into custody.
Elsewhere, a crowd temporarily blocked the Boulevard Périphérique, the ring road surrounding Paris, before police moved in to clear the route and restore traffic flow.
Officials also reported damage to a bakery and a restaurant during the unrest.
Near PSG’s home stadium in the 16th Arrondissement, police managed a gathering of approximately 1,000 supporters and removed makeshift barricades that had been constructed using bicycles.
The incidents came despite extensive preparations by authorities, who had anticipated large crowds following PSG’s success in Europe.
The club’s previous Champions League triumph in 2025 also triggered widespread celebrations and public disorder. On that occasion, more than 500 arrests were made across France as authorities struggled to contain unrest in several cities.
As a result, Paris remained on heightened alert for this year’s celebrations, with law enforcement closely monitoring gatherings throughout the evening.
While the majority of supporters celebrated peacefully, Saturday’s disturbances once again highlighted the challenges faced by authorities during major football celebrations in the French capital.
PSG’s latest European triumph cemented the club’s status among the continent’s elite, but the scenes that followed in Paris ensured the night was remembered for more than just events on the pitch.