French police have detained 780 people after violent clashes erupted in Paris and around 15 other cities following Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League victory over Arsenal on Saturday night. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that 57 officers were injured, most with minor injuries, as fans set fires, vandalised shops, and attempted to storm a police station.
Nuñez stated that most celebrations were peaceful, but incidents concentrated near the Champs-Élysées and the Parc des Princes, where over 40,000 fans watched the match. Police intervened five times to prevent traffic blockades on the Paris ring road. In the Paris area alone, 480 people were detained, with 277 placed in custody, including 82 minors, facing charges such as assaulting police, theft, and vandalism.
One serious incident involved a driver losing control and crashing into a restaurant terrace, injuring two people, one seriously. Despite the unrest, Nuñez confirmed that planned celebrations for the team at the Champ de Mars and a reception with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace would proceed as scheduled.
Footage showed skirmishes near the Parc des Princes, with fans firing fireworks at police, who responded with teargas. Some supporters wore T-shirts reading 'FU*K ARSENAL 2026' and set fire to Lime bikes. France deployed 22,000 police to maintain order, compared to last year when two people died and nearly 200 were injured after PSG's first Champions League win.
