PARIS, France — Celebrations turned violent across France on Saturday, May 31, 2025, after Paris Saint-Germain clinched their first-ever UEFA Champions League title with a 5–0 win over Inter Milan, leaving two people dead, hundreds injured, and more than 500 arrested.
The French capital and other cities erupted into scenes of jubilation following the club’s historic victory at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
However, festivities quickly descended into chaos as clashes broke out between fans and police, particularly around the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
The French interior ministry confirmed on Sunday that 559 people had been arrested nationwide, including 491 in Paris alone.
In addition, more than 500 individuals were reported injured during the unrest.
Among the fatalities was a 17-year-old boy in the southwestern town of Dax, who was stabbed in the chest, and a 23-year-old man who died after being struck by a car while riding a scooter in central Paris.
Flares were ignited, public transport infrastructure vandalised, and vehicles set ablaze as riot police struggled to contain the violence.
Videos circulating on social media showed smashed bus shelters and groups of masked youths throwing objects at security forces.
“I have asked the internal security forces to react vigorously to these abuses,” Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau posted on X.
“It is unbearable that it is not possible to party without fearing the savagery of a minority of thugs who respect nothing.”
Retailleau also expressed support for the Police Prefect and officers deployed to manage the crowds, saying they had acted to ensure public safety under difficult conditions.
PSG’s emphatic triumph marked the culmination of years of investment and ambition by the Qatari-owned club, and celebrations were expected.
The team’s victory parade still held on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday, June 1, 2025, where up to 100,000 supporters gathered.
Security agencies have since increased their presence in major French cities to prevent further disturbances during the parade.
Authorities are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the two deaths and the wider damage caused overnight.
Despite the violent incidents, PSG’s win remains a landmark moment in French football, as the club becomes only the second French team to win the UEFA Champions League, following Olympique de Marseille’s victory in 1993.
