Celebrations marking Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) first-ever UEFA Champions League victory turned unruly in the French capital on Saturday night, leading to the arrest of nearly 300 individuals, police officials said.
Tens of thousands of jubilant fans took to the streets following PSG’s resounding 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich. The win, described by French leaders as “historic”, marked the club’s long-awaited triumph on Europe’s biggest footballing stage. However, as night fell, scenes of celebration gave way to pockets of unrest around iconic locations, including the Champs-Élysées and the Parc des Princes stadium.
Paris police said the majority of the 300 people arrested were suspected of possessing fireworks or engaging in public disorder. Scuffles broke out between riot police and groups of fans who lit fireworks and lobbed objects. Water cannons were deployed in an attempt to disperse crowds near the Arc de Triomphe.
“Troublemakers on the Champs-Élysées were looking to create incidents and repeatedly came into contact with police by throwing large fireworks and other objects,” a police statement said.
AFP reporters on the ground confirmed that police were forced to intervene after celebrations spiralled into chaos. At Parc des Princes, where 48,000 fans had gathered to watch the match on large screens, authorities struggled to maintain order as fans flooded nearby streets.
While the majority of the capital’s football faithful celebrated peacefully—waving flags, honking car horns and chanting club anthems—sporadic violence marred the night. A PSG supporter named Clément, 20, expressed pride in the team’s achievement, saying: “It’s so good and so deserved! We have a song that talks about our struggles and it hasn’t always been easy. But we got our faith back this year with a team without stars. They’re 11 guys who play for each other.”
Outside the capital, tragedy nearly struck in the southeastern city of Grenoble, where a car drove into a group of PSG supporters celebrating the win. Police said four people from the same family were injured, including two seriously. The driver later turned himself in and was taken into custody. Investigators said the incident appeared unintentional, though an inquiry is ongoing.
In Paris, the win has united the city in celebration. French President Emmanuel Macron was among the first to congratulate the team. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he hailed a “day of glory for PSG” and wrote: “Bravo, we are all proud. Paris is the capital of Europe tonight.”
President Macron’s office also confirmed he would receive the victorious players at the Élysée Palace on Sunday.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo called the victory “historic” and praised the players’ spirit and dedication. “Paris has waited a long time for this,” she wrote.
A grand victory parade is scheduled for Sunday on the Champs-Élysées, where thousands more are expected to join the celebrations as the PSG squad returns from Munich.
The title marks the culmination of a remarkable campaign for the Parisian club, which has often fallen short in Europe despite years of domestic dominance. This season, however, under new management and with a reshuffled squad focused on collective effort rather than star power, PSG rewrote their legacy.
