French police have detained 780 people after violent clashes erupted in Paris and other French cities on Saturday night, following Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League victory over Arsenal. Interior minister Laurent Nuñez reported that 57 officers were injured, most with minor injuries, as fans set fires and vandalised shops. A small group even attempted to storm a Paris police station.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Nuñez said the situation was largely under control. He noted that most celebrations were peaceful, with incidents concentrated near the Champs-Élysées and the Parc des Princes stadium in western Paris, where fans had gathered to watch the match. Police intervened five times overnight to prevent traffic blockades on the city's main ring road.
Nuñez stated that incidents occurred in around 15 cities, with one or two shops vandalised outside Paris. Of the 780 detainees, 480 were arrested in the Paris area. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that 277 people were formally in police custody, including 82 minors, mostly for assaulting police officers, theft, vandalism, and public order offences.
One serious incident involved a driver losing control of a car that crashed into a restaurant terrace, leaving two people injured, one seriously. Despite the violence, Nuñez confirmed that planned celebrations for the team's win on Sunday afternoon at the Champ de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower, would proceed as scheduled. The PSG team will later be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.
Television footage showed brief skirmishes around the Parc des Princes, where over 40,000 fans watched the match on giant screens. By 11pm local time, police had made over 130 arrests. Reports indicated that some fans fired fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas. Some supporters wore T-shirts reading 'FU*K ARSENAL 2026' while standing next to burning Lime bikes. Smoke rose from several areas as police in riot gear chased groups of fans and stamped out flares.
France had deployed 22,000 police officers to maintain order in the capital. Last year, two people died and nearly 200 were injured after PSG won the Champions League for the first time by beating Inter. The Champs-Élysées, partly cordoned off, filled with mostly peaceful fans, with police estimating the crowd at 20,000. Some supporters set off fireworks and lit flares. The Paris police prefecture said smaller groups caused disturbances, vandalising shops, setting fires, and torching cars. Those who attempted to storm a police station in the 8th arrondissement were dispersed.
