PARIS — June 2, 2025 – Wild celebrations marking Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League triumph turned deadly and chaotic across France over the weekend, with at least two people dead and over 500 arrested, according to the French interior ministry.
The violence followed PSG’s emphatic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in Saturday’s final, the club’s first-ever Champions League title. While most fans celebrated peacefully in the streets of Paris and other French cities, authorities reported widespread rioting, looting, and arson.
In the southwestern town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed in the chest late Saturday, local media reported. Meanwhile, in central Paris, a 23-year-old man riding a scooter was fatally struck by a vehicle, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed.
Interior ministry figures revealed that 559 people were arrested nationwide, with 491 in Paris alone. At least 192 people were injured, including 22 police officers and seven firefighters. One officer was placed in an induced coma after being struck by a firework during the clashes.
Cars were torched, bus shelters smashed, and several shops—including a Foot Locker on the Champs-Élysées—were looted. Riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to reach the Arc de Triomphe. At least 5,400 officers had been deployed in anticipation of large gatherings.
Paris Police Prefect Laurent Nuñez condemned the violence, noting that some individuals arrested “had not even watched the match” and came solely to commit acts of vandalism. “We will never get used to this kind of abuse,” he said, adding that police expected more unrest on Sunday.
Despite the overnight turmoil, PSG’s official victory parade proceeded as scheduled on Sunday afternoon. An estimated 100,000 supporters lined the Champs-Élysées to cheer the team’s open-top bus procession to the Arc de Triomphe. A second celebration at the club’s Parc des Princes stadium was also held under heavy security.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the violence “unacceptable and unjustifiable,” promising swift punishment for perpetrators. Macron, an Olympique de Marseille supporter, also congratulated PSG on their victory, hailing the team’s success as a proud moment for France. “Bravo, we are all proud,” he posted on X.
In a statement, PSG denounced the disorder, saying the “isolated acts are contrary to the club’s values and in no way represent the vast majority of our supporters.”
Elsewhere, in Grenoble, a car rammed into a group of PSG fans, injuring four members of the same family. Two suffered serious injuries. The driver turned himself in and was taken into custody. Investigators believe the incident was not intentional.
Dax Mayor Julien Dubois expressed grief over the teenager’s death, calling for a full investigation and harsh punishment for the perpetrator. “We are floored by all the drama tonight,” he wrote on social media.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau issued a stern rebuke to those involved in the violence: “True PSG supporters are enjoying their team’s magnificent match. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets to commit crimes. It’s unbearable.”
As authorities brace for further unrest, the celebrations marking PSG’s most monumental achievement remain clouded by tragedy and destruction.
