"I regret", "I am ashamed": at the immediate appearances following the violence that followed PSG's victory, the mea culpa of the first defendants

By Camille Tavitian

Published on June 3, 2025 at 7:16 p.m.

Google News

Reading time: 2 min.

Story: Several people arrested after PSG's victory for violent acts were being tried in Paris on Monday, June 2nd, in immediate appearance. These young people had no criminal record and were unable to explain their actions.

In addition to their love for their club, the two defendants have many things in common. They are young, in their twenties, with no criminal record, stable jobs, and both have fired mortars. fireworks on CRS during the celebrations , this Saturday, May 31, of the historic victory of Paris Saint-Germain, who became European football champions after defeating Inter Milan.

In a packed and sometimes noisy courtroom, the presiding judge expressed her embarrassment at the sight of these two young men with no criminal records. In this unusual context of celebrations punctuated by violent incidents, 253 people were taken into custody. These young supporters are now facing immediate trial.

A shameful defendant

When the first defendant entered the dock, he was intimidated, head down, staring at the ground, a PSG jersey on his shoulders. Aurélien, 20, works as a logistics forklift driver and lives with his parents in the Paris region. He is accused of aggravated violence against the CRS: he allegedly targeted them with fireworks (purchased via the social network Snapchat) on the Place de la Concorde, around 2 a.m. In the aftermath, he initially fled, then was restrained on the ground, and escaped with a wound to the forehead.

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Facing the president, he admitted to being so "ashamed" that he didn't have the heart to tell his parents he was in the dock on Monday, June 2. Even though he tried to justify his mortar fire, which was supposedly a response to the use of tear gas by the CRS, the defendant admitted his wrongdoing and said, in a small voice, into the microphone:

Facing him, the prosecutor is indignant: "But where is the spirit of sport and harmony?" The defendant's lawyer, for her part, asserts that the court must take into account the fact that the young man has a clean record and that his presence in the dock is exceptional.

When the second defendant appeared before the presiding judge, he too appeared intimidated by the situation he found himself in. Brahim was a tall, slender 21-year-old, still a student. He was wearing a white PSG jacket. There was a trace of blood on his right sleeve at the elbow: Brahim had refused to comply and ended up in police custody, which he had a hard time handling, as he told the court. He insisted he would not participate in any more violence during celebrations. For now, he is on trial for firing fireworks at police officers.

When the president asks Brahim if his family is there to support him, his mother, sitting in the front row, speaks out. with a wave of the hand, and behind her, her friends smile at her. The two benches are occupied by her relatives. Her lawyer emphasizes this, in order to illustrate the young man's investment in his neighborhood life.

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