By Adesakin Adefemi
Paris prepared to give Paris Saint-Germain a hero’s welcome on Sunday after the club won its second consecutive UEFA Champions League title. Celebrations were planned across the capital under heavy security following a night of revelry marred by unrest.
PSG defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties in Budapest on Saturday night after a 1-1 draw through extra time. The result sparked street parties in Paris and other French cities as thousands of supporters took to the streets.
The celebrations turned chaotic in several areas. Authorities reported clashes with police, burglary, vandalism, a deadly road accident, and hundreds of arrests. By Sunday morning, municipal workers were clearing streets littered with broken glass, damaged bus shelters, and burned vehicles.
Security was tightened ahead of a planned parade for the players on the Champs-de-Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower. Officials expected tens of thousands to attend. Thousands of fans were already gathered in the afternoon, waving flags and wearing PSG colours.
“We’re still riding yesterday’s high, so we want to keep the party going,” said 25-year-old Abou, a lifelong PSG supporter. Chants of “Paris, Paris” filled the air as fans passed through security checkpoints near a stage set for the players.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez promised a strong law enforcement response and warned of fines for anyone obstructing traffic on the Paris ring road. Nearly 6,000 police and gendarmes were deployed for the celebrations.
The team was also scheduled to be received at the Elysee Palace by President Emmanuel Macron before returning to their Parc de Princes stadium. Nunez said 780 people were arrested nationwide overnight, with 57 security personnel and 219 civilians injured.
A young man in his twenties died after crashing into concrete blocks on a Paris ring road exit ramp while riding a motocross bike. Another man was seriously injured in a knife attack in Paris allegedly linked to a robbery.
The Paris town hall of the 8th arrondissement called for a policy of “zero gatherings” on the Champs-Elysees to prevent further violence. Nunez rejected the idea, saying it would tie up too many security resources. Shops had boarded up windows ahead of the match to avoid a repeat of last year’s unrest.
