sport
Share icon

Share

Hundreds arrested in Paris Champions League celebrations

Published 10:57 31 May 2026 BST

Updated 10:57 31 May 2026 BST

Ava Keady
Hundreds arrested in Paris Champions League celebrations

Homesport

It follows Paris Saint-Germain's victory in the Champions League final against Arsenal.

Hundreds have been arrested in Paris following Champions League celebrations.

Clashes between football fans and police across France, particularly in the French capital, have led to over 400 arrests.

It follows Paris Saint-Germain's victory in the Champions League final against Arsenal.

The disorder impacted transport services in the capital, with thousands of officers deployed to control the situation.

The unrest is similar to that of last year after PSG won the same trophy, with two people losing their lives in the disruptions.

Authorities were better prepared this year, with Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, saying there was a 'very robust, very solid system in place'.

The Champs-Élysées was crowded with fans shortly after the team's penalty shootout win, with footage of the turmoil showing electric bikes burning on roads, shopfronts being smashed, as well as flares and fireworks being set off.

There were clashes between police and supporters earlier in the day as they showed up to PSG's Parc des Princes to watch the final on screens in the stadium.

According to authorities, six vehicles, two businesses and a bus shelter were damaged during the events, with 416 arrests, including 280 people in Paris.

Minister Nuñez revealed that seven officers had been injured and described the unrest as 'absolutely unacceptable'.

Marine Le Pen, far-right leader, posted 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."

The victorious team will take part in a victory parade this afternoon, the route of which includes a tour of the Champ-de-Mars next to the Eiffel Tower followed by a reception hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.

Explore more on these topics:

Hundreds arrested in Paris Champions League celebrations