Arabic version: أكثر من 400 اعتقال بعد فوز باريس سان جيرمان بدوري أبطال أوروبا

Clashes between football fans and police across France have led to more than 400 arrests following the victory of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League final against Arsenal. Thousands of officers were deployed to curb unrest that disrupted bus, train, and rail services in Paris. According to BBC News, fireworks and flares were set off, while several police officers were injured in the fray. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds in the city centre.

While PSG’s victory marked a consecutive triumph, it also followed a year of football-fuelled violence after the French side’s 2025 win sparked celebrations that turned deadly. Footage from Paris showed flares being ignited, electric bikes burning on roads, and revellers smashing the glass of at least one shopfront. The Champs-Élysées was swarmed by fans shortly after the French team won in a penalty shootout.

Earlier in the day, clashes occurred between police and supporters who gathered to watch the final on giant screens at PSG’s Parc des Princes. Police reported that six vehicles, two businesses, and a bus shelter were damaged during the unrest. France’s interior ministry stated that 416 were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, including 280 in Paris.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the unrest as “absolutely unacceptable” and noted that seven officers had been injured. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticized the situation on social media, stating, “Only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots.”

Players are scheduled to participate in a victory parade on Sunday afternoon, which will include a tour of the Champs de Mars next to the Eiffel Tower and a reception held by French President Emmanuel Macron. Last year’s PSG European championship triumph was marred by clashes that resulted in two deaths, including that of a 17-year-old boy.