France descended into chaos overnight as wild celebrations marking Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League victory turned deadly, with two people killed, hundreds arrested, and dozens of vehicles set ablaze.
The French Interior Ministry confirmed on Sunday that 559 people were arrested nationwide, including 491 in the capital, Paris, after supporters flooded the streets to mark PSG’s emphatic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in Munich—securing their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.
The Champs-Elysees became ground zero for the jubilations-cum-mayhem, as thousands of fans descended on the iconic avenue. What began as a carnival of chants, fireworks and car horns soon degenerated into violent clashes with riot police, who deployed water cannons to push back the surging crowd from reaching the Arc de Triomphe.
Tragically, the night ended in bloodshed. In Paris’ 15th arrondissement, a man riding a scooter lost his life after being hit by a car just kilometres away from the Champs-Elysees. In a separate incident in Dax, southwestern France, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death during a celebration. While authorities confirmed the killing happened amid the revelry, it remains unclear if it was directly linked to the football match. The suspect is still at large.
Authorities reported that 18 police officers sustained injuries in Paris alone, with an additional three wounded elsewhere in the country. Emergency services were not spared either, as seven firefighters were hurt while responding to multiple incidents.
Chaos reigned through the night as 692 fires were recorded, including 264 vehicles set ablaze. Street furniture and shopfronts also bore the brunt of the unrest.
The capital was bracing for another wave of mass gatherings on Sunday, with PSG’s victorious squad expected to parade down the Champs-Elysees to the adulation of tens of thousands of fans. President Emmanuel Macron announced he would receive the team at the Elysée Palace in honour of their triumph.
Meanwhile, in Grenoble, southeastern France, celebrations turned grim after a car rammed into a group of fans, injuring four people from the same family—two of them critically. The driver later turned himself in and, according to police sources, tested negative for alcohol and drugs. Preliminary investigations suggest the act was not deliberate.
Despite the violence, most PSG supporters marked the occasion peacefully. Around 48,000 fans had earlier watched the match on giant screens at Parc des Princes stadium. Police said the bulk of the arrests were related to illegal possession of fireworks and public disorder.
The atmosphere remained euphoric for many. “It’s so good and so deserved!” said Clement, a 20-year-old PSG fan. “We’ve struggled, but this season, they played as a team—no superstars, just unity.”
President Macron called it a “day of glory for PSG” in a post on X, while Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo described the victory as “historic.”
Audience ratings revealed the scale of the national fervour, with 11.5 million people across France tuning in to watch the final, according to Mediametrie and Canal+.
What was meant to be a night of footballing jubilation will now also be remembered for the chaos and casualties that followed.
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