Paris Saint-Germain’s qualification for the Champions League final sparked celebrations across Paris on Wednesday night, but authorities said the festivities were overshadowed by clashes, injuries and dozens of arrests in the French capital and surrounding areas.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 127 people were arrested across the Paris metropolitan region, including 107 within the city, after PSG advanced to the May 30 final in Budapest against Arsenal following a semifinal victory over Bayern Munich.
Officials said 11 people were injured during the disturbances, including one person seriously hurt by a mortar firework, while 23 police officers sustained minor injuries.
Police intervened near the Parc des Princes stadium and along the Champs-Elysées as officers attempted to prevent groups from blocking the Paris ring road and damaging businesses.
Nuñez said hundreds of individuals sought confrontations with police and attempted acts of looting during the celebrations.
“ No disturbances will be tolerated,” Nuñez said.
Authorities said much of the city celebrated peacefully after crowds gathered late into the night following PSG’s result in Munich.
However, police reported fires involving bins and vehicles in parts of central Paris, while tear gas was used in some areas to disperse crowds approaching the club’s stadium.
Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand shared footage showing vandalism at his outdoor exhibition in Place de la Concorde, where several display panels had been overturned and damaged.
Nuñez praised police for preventing broader destruction and said security measures would be reinforced for the Champions League final later this month in Budapest.
The unrest renewed concerns over football-related violence in France, where major matches and title celebrations have repeatedly led to confrontations in recent years.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said he wanted a large fan zone organized for supporters during the final, though he acknowledged the need for strict safety planning.
Nuñez criticized the proposal as premature, saying discussions over the location and security arrangements had not yet been completed with police authorities.
The disturbances were less severe than the violence that followed PSG’s Champions League triumph last year, when hundreds were arrested across France during celebrations linked to the club’s victory.