Interior Minister condemns Paris disorder as PSG reach Champions League final
Widespread clashes outside the Parc des Princes and on the Champs-Elysees have prompted heightened security measures for the upcoming match in Budapest
Paris Saint-Germain have advanced to the Champions League final following a 6-5 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich, yet the celebrations have been marred by significant domestic disorder. Nearly 130 individuals were arrested overnight after fans clashed with police in the capital, disrupting the atmosphere surrounding the club's historic achievement.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has strongly condemned the excesses, noting that 127 people were detained across the Paris metropolitan area, with 107 arrests recorded within the city limits. The unrest resulted in 11 injuries among rioters, including one serious case involving an individual using a mortar, while 23 police officers sustained light injuries during the dispersal of groups.
The violence primarily occurred outside the Parc des Princes stadium and along the Champs-Elysees. Police teams systematically intervened to prevent the blocking of the Paris ring road and to stop attempts at property damage and looting. Minister Nunez expressed gratitude to the police prefect and his teams for their adherence to instructions in maintaining order.
In a move that highlights tensions between local administration and national security protocols, Nunez reproached recently elected Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire. The Interior Minister criticised the mayor for publicly announcing the creation of a fan zone in Paris for the upcoming final without prior consultation with the police. Nunez stated that authorities still need to determine where the fan zone will be organised.
Security protocols are set to be heightened for the Champions League final scheduled for 30 May in Budapest, Hungary, where PSG will face Arsenal. This incident follows a recurring pattern of post-match violence in France, with over 500 arrests recorded after PSG's previous Champions League triumph last year.
Historical context suggests that such disturbances are not uncommon in the region, with previous incidents including clashes in 2020, 2013, and following various international matches. The current unrest has prompted a reassessment of crowd management strategies for the upcoming fixture in Hungary.
