Two dead and more than 550 arrested in French riots following PSG's victory

Two dead, more than 550 arrested , more than 700 fires , and more than 260 vehicles burned: this is the toll taken by the "celebrations" of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League victory. The initial jubilation gave way to riots and clashes with police in the capital and across France. The events have marred the victory and the parade originally planned for Sunday afternoon on the Champs-Élysées.

The area around the Arc de Triomphe , cordoned off by police, was one of the "battlefields" throughout Saturday night, along with the area around the Parc des Princes , where 40,000 fans watched the match on giant screens and had to be dispersed by riot police using water cannons and tear gas.

In Dax , in the French Basque Country, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death during a riot. In Paris, an electric scooter rider was killed when a car hit him during street celebrations. More than 20 police officers were injured across the country (one of whom was in an induced coma on Sunday), amid clashing accusations over the aggressiveness with which law enforcement tried to contain the crush.

Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez reported that 190 people were injured to varying degrees during the incidents following PSG's victory. "For us, there's still half the match to go," he warned, referring to the team's triumphal parade on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday afternoon , which will feature a "military presence."

"We're going to make sure the incidents of Saturday night never happen again," Núñez stressed, recounting how dozens of police officers were "attacked" with fireworks and how several firefighters were assaulted while trying to extinguish fires in burning cars.

"The authorities will respond to vandals and those who break the law," the police chief added, praising the "courage" of firefighters and law enforcement in the face of "the provocations of certain individuals who camouflage themselves among football fans and contribute to giving them this negative image."

Drastic security measures included a ban on outdoor giant screens and the "blocking off" of the Champs-Élysées. Fans occasionally crashed into police barriers and riot police walls. Unable to find a "natural" space to celebrate the victory, the euphoric crowd moved overnight to locations such as the Bastille and Place de la République .

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau denounced "the presence of barbarians in the streets of Paris" even before the match ended. Jordan Bardella , far-right leader and president of the National Rally, lashed out at the "riffraff" who take advantage of every popular festival: "Not only do they create a serious security problem, but they also tarnish France's image worldwide."

"Champions, my brother," wrote President Emmanuel Macron on his X account, who could welcome Luis Enrique and his team to the Élysée Palace in the coming hours. "A day of glory for PSG. Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, capital of Europe tonight."

"PSG, pride of our country, collective joy, unforgettable," wrote Prime Minister François Bayrou , who urged the population to remain calm, to no avail: "May the celebration be beautiful and may everyone take care of everyone's safety. Think of the forces of law and order."

"What a fantastic match, what a mentality on the pitch, and what happiness for Paris!" said Mayor Anne Hidalgo. "Paris is at the top of Europe after this magnificent victory," declared Culture Minister Rachida Dati .

From afar, Kylian Mbappé , who so often came close to reaching Europe with his former club, extended his congratulations to his former teammates: "The big day has finally arrived. With victory and in the style of an entire club."

The president of the French professional football league, Vincent Labrune , finally celebrated the victory as "a huge celebration for French football and a reward for the demands, work and ambition of a club that for more than a decade has competed to be among the greatest institutions in European football."