Hundreds arrested in France after Champions League riots

May 31, 2026 No Comments

Hundreds arrested and dozens of police injured after Champions League riots in France2 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google

Paulin Kola

Watch: Paris police fire tear gas in clashes with triumphant PSG fans

A total of 219 people have been injured in clashes between football fans and police across France after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the Champions League final against Arsenal.

Eight were in a serious condition, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated. Thousands of officers were deployed to curb unrest that disrupted bus, train and rail services in the capital, Paris. Fifty-seven of them were injured.

Nuñez stated 780 people had been arrested over the violence – with more than 450 in custody. A person was found dead after an accident on Paris’s ring road, which rioters tried to block overnight.

Some 6,000 police have been mobilised for Sunday’s victory parade, which has begun.

Scenes around the site of the Eiffel Tower on Sunday appeared jubilant and peaceful as the parade got under way at around 18:00 local time (17:00 BST), with fans lining the streets to cheer PSG players and staff.

The celebrations include touring the Champ-de-Mars next to the Eiffel Tower and a reception by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Authorities say they are prepared to deal with any trouble

AFP via Getty Images Police officers near a fan in the area near Eiffel Tower which can be seen in the distance with a large number of people gathered; a car is on fire in the middle of the road, in from of a tall building — Authorities say they are prepared to deal with any trouble

Scenes from Paris were similar to last year’s celebrations of PSG victory

AFP via Getty Images Young men run away from police on a cobbled street. Smoke from tear gas can be seen in the backgound — Scenes from Paris were similar to last year’s celebrations of PSG victory

Earlier, the interior minister stated the security forces would be “firm” in their response to violence.

“We are a great country for maintaining public order. We allow freedom of assembly, but not excesses,” he stated.

There was similar violence when PSG won the same trophy last year, with celebrations turning deadly.

Thousands of officers had been deployed this time to curb unrest that disrupted bus, train and rail services in Paris.

The vast Champs-Élysées was swarmed by fans shortly after the local team won in a penalty shootout.

Footage shows flares being set off, electric bikes burning on roads and revellers smashing the glass of at least one shopfront. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds in the city centre.

Paris police made 480 arrests, with 277 taken into custody, including 82 minors.

The figures were provisional, the Paris prosecutor’s office stated. It added that offences ranged from attacks on officers to attacks on property, theft, as well as illegal possession of weapons.

The circumstances surrounding the death of the 24-year-old near Porte Maillot in the Paris ring road remain unclear. Some witnesses stated he was riding a motorcycle when he crashed into concrete blocks.

A teenager was also in critical condition following a brawl in another area of Paris. It is not clear if they were involved in the football-related rioting.

Thousands of PSG fans are expected to watch their team parade the Champions League trophy near the Eiffel Tower

PSG fans were in good spirits as the victory parade began on Sunday evening

Getty Images Close up shot of PSG fans cheering and celebrating — PSG fans were in good spirits as the victory parade began on Sunday evening

“The vast majority go out to celebrate and it goes very well,” the French interior minister stated on Sunday.

“But other individuals, who are not PSG supporters, who don’t even watch the match, come to cause trouble and disturbances. We are here to prevent them from doing so. Our response is very firm.”

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote on X: “Only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots.”

“Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on the evening of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence,” she stated.