Hundreds Arrested in France After PSG Champions League Final Victory Over Arsenal

PARIS: Hundreds of people have been arrested across France following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) victory on penalties over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final, as celebrations turned chaotic in several areas, authorities said.

The French Ministry of the Interior confirmed that a total of 416 arrests were made nationwide, including 283 in the Paris region, according to information cited by BFMTV.

Large crowds gathered in the capital following the match, with nearly 20,000 people reportedly present on the Champs-Élysées at the height of the celebrations, according to figures from the Paris police headquarters.

While PSG had urged supporters to celebrate “with pride, responsibility and respect,” authorities deployed a heavy security presence ahead of the final. A total of 22,000 police officers were mobilised across France, including 8,000 in the Paris metropolitan area, to manage potential unrest.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said disturbances had been “foreseen and anticipated,” adding that 416 arrests were made in total, including 283 within the jurisdiction of the Paris police prefecture. He also confirmed that seven police officers were injured during the incidents, one of them seriously.

Authorities further reported that at least two businesses were damaged in areas covered by the Paris police prefecture amid sporadic outbreaks of violence during the celebrations.

Despite the disorder, many supporters continued to mark PSG’s penalty shootout victory over Arsenal, which secured the French club another Champions League triumph in front of a global audience.