Riots have erupted in the French capital just minutes after Arsenal took the lead against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, while jubilant Gunners fans celebrated in London.
Match Overview
The North London side is aiming to secure their second trophy of the season after clinching the Premier League title last week. PSG, meanwhile, hopes to win the coveted trophy for the second consecutive year. The match is currently tied at 1-1 after PSG scored a penalty in the 65th minute. Arsenal forward Leandro Troussard had put the Gunners ahead with a dramatic goal just six minutes into the first half.
Violence Erupts in Paris
PSG fans back in Paris did not take Arsenal's early advantage calmly. Reports indicate that police deployed tear gas and baton charges against crowds gathered to watch the game on TV screens outside bars and cafés in sweltering heat on Saturday afternoon. Some supporters have been arrested by police in full riot gear.
‘The trouble started as soon as Arsenal went one-nil up,’ said an onlooker. ‘Chairs and bottles were thrown at the police, who then moved in to make arrests.’
Some Paris St Germain fans managed to climb scaffolding on a building near the Rue de Rivoli, one of the main shopping streets in the French capital. This led to further confrontations as officers attempted to bring them down.
Scenes of Chaos
In dramatic scenes, PSG supporters were arrested by riot police, and firefighters were seen extinguishing flares set off by fans. Meanwhile, outside the Emirates Stadium in London, hundreds of Arsenal fans celebrated Troussard's goal by setting off red flares.
In Paris, skirmishes continued throughout the first half, with some cafés turning off their televisions to prevent further unrest. Hundreds of tourists visiting landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre museum found themselves caught up in the trouble.
Police Presence and Arrests
Approximately 5,000 police and gendarmes were deployed on the streets of Paris on Saturday to monitor crowds gathering to watch the Budapest final. Football violence has become an increasing problem across France. Last year, 43 people were arrested when PSG beat Arsenal to reach the Champions League final. Riots broke out in Paris and other parts of France, with hooded youths engaging in running battles with riot police. The worst incident occurred near the Champs Élysées when a car plowed into a group of fans.
While many Paris fans have traveled to Hungary for this year's final, tens of thousands remained on the streets of the French capital, leading to the unrest.
