Authorities in France arrested more than 400 individuals following violent disturbances that broke out across multiple cities Saturday evening after Paris Saint-Germain secured the Champions League championship.
The unrest resulted in injuries to seven law enforcement officers as soccer supporters ignited fires and damaged storefronts, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who called the violence “absolutely unacceptable.” Authorities also reported that a small group of individuals attempted to force their way into a police facility in Paris.
According to Nuñez, the disturbances occurred in approximately 15 French cities, with close to 400 people taken into custody nationwide. Nearly 300 of those arrests happened in Paris.
Despite the overnight chaos, Nuñez confirmed that planned victory celebrations for Sunday afternoon at the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower will proceed as originally scheduled. Following the public celebration, the PSG squad will visit French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee presidential palace.
The celebrations began in Paris immediately after the match concluded Saturday evening in Budapest, Hungary, where Paris Saint-Germain claimed victory over Arsenal in a penalty shootout during an intense championship match.
Supporters gathered along streets near the Arc de Triomphe, with some lighting flares and honking vehicle horns. Approximately 20,000 people assembled on the Champs-Elysees, where law enforcement officers worked to manage the crowds.
According to the Paris police prefecture, smaller groups created disturbances throughout the city, damaging businesses and starting fires. Vehicles were also set on fire. Police successfully dispersed those who tried to breach a police station in the upscale 8th Arrondissement area.
Last year in May, following PSG’s previous championship, 201 people suffered injuries in the French capital while police arrested over 500 individuals throughout France.
