French celebrations after PSG's Champions League win marred by two deaths and 559 arrests
Image: Thibaud Moritz/AFP
Two people died, hundreds were arrested and cars set ablaze in France overnight as football fans celebrated Paris Saint-Germain's stunning Champions League final victory, the interior ministry said on Sunday.
The epicentre of the euphoria was in Paris, which was a theatre of car horns, cheers, singing in the street and fireworks throughout the night following PSG's 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in Munich.
The ministry said 491 people were arrested in the capital when crowds converged on the Champs-Elysees avenue and clashes broke out with officers.
Across France as a whole, including Paris, a total of 559 people were arrested, it added.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
Tragic Incidents and Unrest Amid PSG Victory Celebrations
The two deaths occurred as the celebrations took place.
A man riding a motor scooter in Paris died after being hit by a car in the city's southern 15th arrondissement located just a couple of kilometres (miles) away from the Champs-Elysees.
In the southwestern town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed at a gathering feting the PSG victory, prosecutors said.
His death occurred "during the celebrations", but the prosecutor's office said it did not know whether it was directly related to the Champions League final. It added that the perpetrator was "on the run".
The interior ministry said that 18 police officers in Paris were injured, along with three elsewhere in France, as were 192 people celebrating in the streets. Seven fire-service personnel were also hurt.
It said that 692 fires were reported through the night, including 264 cars that were set ablaze.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane says fatigue will catch up with Sundowns
AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has warned fatigue will catch up with Mamelodi Sundowns because players did not have enough rest due to the Fifa Club World Cup. After they won the league last season, Sundowns players had a few weeks' break before they travelled to the US to play high-intensity matches against Ulsan HD of Korea, German side Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense FC of Brazil at the Club World Cup. When they returned from the US they rested for a few weeks before reporting for work to start two weeks of preparations in Rustenburg, which is unusual because preseason usually takes six weeks. The new season has started and they have already played three matches in 10 days and they have a high-profile MTN8 semifinal first leg against Orlando Pirates on Saturday. Zwane said coach Miguel Cardoso's players are going to suffer burnout during the season, which includes the Champions League. 'It is going to be a tough season for Sundowns because they played in the Fifa Club World Cup and at some point players will get tired,' said the AmaZulu coach. 'I am talking from a players' perspective because I played and I know. If you play football for four years at the same pace and high demands and travelling, it is difficult.' One of the three matches they have played so far included a trip to Gqeberha and Zwane said they travelled a lot last season, especially in the Champions League. 'It is not like in Europe where most trips are two or three hours. For Sundowns, I know they charter flights, but the disadvantage in Africa is sometimes you travel for seven to eight hours. 'We must capitalise on that, but they are a top team. They are good for South African football and we have to gauge ourselves using them and to get closer.' Cardoso said he is going to manage his players by rotating them. 'You know our preseason was two weeks, we joined and started playing and we had to do it that way. We know players are still growing on their conditioning and it is important to manage that. 'We know we have to manage players every match until we feel they are in condition to play every three days. We played 72 hours ago and we had to travel from the Eastern Cape. 'When you are at the beginning of the season it takes longer to recover fully, so we are trying to respect the conditioning of the players,' said Cardoso. Sundowns have dominated the local scene for years and Zwane pointed out other clubs must be smart if they want to compete with them. 'We have to be smart if we are to compete with Sundowns by capitalising, because they are going to play in the Champions League, some of the players are going to play for their national teams and there are going to be injuries. 'In this match we showed we can compete with less quality, especially in the first half. In the second it was a case of consistency. 'Since I have been with AmaZulu we have played three games against Sundowns and we always lose in the same way. Last season we conceded a goal during referee's optional time in the first round. 'In the second round we conceded two goals in a more or less the same situation. For our players, as long as they play and grow, they will get to the level of Sundowns.'


The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Alonso's Real Madrid start La Liga with fresh energy
"Things are going to be different... we are starting from scratch," said Alonso. Real Madrid, featuring several new signings, approach the new season with fresh hope under recently-appointed coach Xabi Alonso, looking to turn the page on a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era with 'ambitious' football. Former Liverpool and Los Blancos midfielder Alonso saw at the Club World Cup in the United States this summer there is plenty of work to do, as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Madrid 4-0 in the semi-final. ALSO READ: Spanish coach Riveiro lays down the law for Ahly stars 'Things are going to be different… we are starting from scratch,' said Alonso, although some of his findings from the tournament will undoubtedly influence his approach. Madrid fans also got their first glimpse of the Basque tactician's plans, and also of England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. Alonso showed tactical flexibility, utilising both a four-man and three-man defence, whereas his predecessor Ancelotti tended to stick with four at the back and was criticised for not being adaptive enough in games. By contrast Alonso was keen to adjust things during matches if he could, including the positioning of his players, and keen to impress on his squad they must all help defensively and with pressing. 'We need and want everyone to defend — the 11 players on the pitch have to be involved defensively,' said Alonso during the tournament, asked specifically about star forwards Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe. 'They have to know how we want to press, and without that, things will be very complicated,' continued Alonso. 'Vini, Jude (Bellingham), Fede (Valverde), Kylian, those up front, the defence has to push forward too.' Alonso is looking to obtain the balance that Ancelotti failed to achieve last season following Mbappe's arrival from PSG. Although the French superstar struck 43 goals under Ancelotti it was not enough to inspire a Madrid side that finished the season without a major trophy, while Barcelona reclaimed La Liga as part of a domestic treble. Mbappe's illness with a stomach bug kept him out of Madrid's group matches at the Club World Cup, but on his first start was in the destruction by PSG. 'We have to be self-critical, but it will also serve us as a guide for where we need to improve,' said Alonso. If Alonso can find the formula for Mbappe and Vinicius to work together without sacrificing too much out of possession remains to be seen, while winger Rodrygo Goes does not appear to be part of the coach's plans, playing a bit-part role in the States. – Goodbyes and new faces – Madrid go into the season without Luka Modric in the squad for the first time in over a decade, with the Croatian's experience and quality a big miss for a side lacking some guile in midfield. Los Blancos' hope is for Turkish playmaker Arda Guler to be able to thrive there and become a player who can control the tempo of a game. 'The coach is trying to make us have more control of the game, and that's better for me,' said Guler. The 20-year-old should get plenty of chances to play at the start of the season with Jude Bellingham sidelined until around mid-October after shoulder surgery to solve a long-running issue. By then new arrival and fellow England international Alexander-Arnold may have established himself in the side. The full-back, who joined from Liverpool before the end of his contract so he could play at the Club World Cup, adds further attacking quality to a Madrid squad brimming with it. Madrid hope Dean Huijsen could help solve some issues at the back, while Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono also join, with Los Blancos spending over 170 million euros ($200 million) this summer. Dani Carvajal's return from a long-term knee injury is another piece of good news for a Madrid side who need it after their 2024-25 campaign was more noteworthy for the club's attacks on referees than for success on the field. Alonso, who hopes to play an 'ambitious' game with 'emotion and energy', wants the world to be talking about Real Madrid's football once again.


eNCA
21 hours ago
- eNCA
Bournemouth splash out on Diakite as Zabarnyi replacement
Bournemouth completed the signing of centre-back Bafode Diakite from Lille on Wednesday to help fill the void left by Illia Zabarnyi's move to Paris Saint-Germain. Diakite will reportedly cost up to £34.6 million ($47 million), making him the Cherries second most expensive ever signing after striker Evanilson's arrival last year. The 24-year-old, who played for France at last year's Olympics, made 112 appearances for Lille, including 10 in the Champions League last season, since joining from Toulouse in 2022. Zabarnyi became the third key defender to leave Bournemouth during this transfer window when the Ukrainian joined the European champions for a reported £57 million on Tuesday. Dean Huijsen made a £50 million move to Real Madrid in June, while Milos Kerkez joined Liverpool for £40 million. "I'm really happy to be here and I'm very excited to start," said Diakite, who could face a daunting debut when Bournemouth open up the new Premier League season away to champions Liverpool on Friday. "I'm a defender who likes to have the ball and play with it, and I hope to show my qualities both with and without it. I will give everything for the team and I hope we will have some great moments together."