Riots Erupt in France After PSG Champions League Victory
PSG fans react in Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. Paris Saint-Germain played Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final in Hungary on May 30. Photo: EFE.
May 31, 2026 Hour: 4:32 am
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A total of 416 people were arrested in France following riots that broke out during celebrations for PSG’s Champions League victory, with 283 of those arrests in Paris alone, while seven police officers were injured.
Clashes and looting occurred in about fifteen French cities, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Sunday, describing the incidents as “absolutely unacceptable.”
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The worst disturbances took place in Paris, where the Prefecture estimated 20,000 fans had gathered on the Champs‑Élysées to celebrate the final between PSG and Arsenal. Altercations erupted at multiple points, temporarily blocking a section of the capital’s main ring road. Other cities affected included Rennes, Strasbourg, Clermont‑Ferrand, and Grenoble.
Last year, when PSG won its first Champions League, serious riots across France left two people dead and nearly 200 injured, including a police officer who remains in a coma. In Paris alone, 500 arrests were made. To avoid a repeat, French authorities deployed 22,000 police and gendarmes nationwide, with 8,000 in Paris and its metropolitan area.
Despite Saturday night’s riots, Nuñez said there is “no possibility of canceling” the Sunday celebrations on the Champ de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, though he noted “it will be a different event.” Some 90,000 people are expected within a security perimeter with entry checks. President Emmanuel Macron will receive the PSG players and coaching staff, led by Spaniard Luis Enrique, at the Élysée Palace at 6:10 p.m. local time, followed by a public statement at 6:45 p.m.
The Élysée said the victory — PSG’s second consecutive Champions League title, won by defeating Arsenal in a penalty shootout in Budapest — highlights the excellence of French football just days before the 2026 World Cup. Macron had earlier written on social media: “A new star shines over Paris! Congratulations to PSG. France is proud.” The Eiffel Tower was lit up in the club’s colors on Saturday night.
