Celebrations turned tragic across France following Paris Saint-Germain’s historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final, with two deaths and nearly 500 arrests reported by authorities.
PSG’s resounding victory in Munich marked the club’s first-ever Champions League title, sparking jubilant scenes in Paris and beyond. However, the festivities were marred by violence, accidents, and chaos. The Champs-Elysees, the epicenter of the celebrations, saw massive crowds gather to celebrate. Police were deployed in large numbers and used water cannons to prevent fans from reaching the Arc de Triomphe as tensions escalated. Authorities confirmed that 491 individuals were arrested, mostly for illegal possession of fireworks and public disorder.
In Dax, southwestern France, tragedy struck when a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a celebration. While the motive remains unclear, prosecutors said the assailant is still at large.
Elsewhere, in Grenoble, a car plowed into a group of fans celebrating the win, injuring four people, two of them seriously. Police later said the driver, who turned himself in, was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and likely did not act deliberately.
Despite the incidents, the majority of fans celebrated peacefully. Around 48,000 supporters gathered at PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium to watch the match on big screens. The capital echoed with chants, cheers, fireworks, and honking horns throughout the night.
President Emmanuel Macron praised the team, calling the day a “day of glory for PSG” on social media platform X. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo hailed the win as “historic.” The team was expected to parade their trophy on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday, with tens of thousands of fans anticipated.
Clement, a 20-year-old supporter, captured the sentiment of many fans: “It’s so good and so deserved! We got our faith back this year with a team without stars—just 11 guys playing for each other.”
According to audience data from Mediametrie and Canal+, 11.5 million viewers across France tuned in to watch PSG’s triumphant moment—an unforgettable night, though darkened by tragedy.
