In the wake of Paris Saint-Germain’s dramatic penalty-shot victory over Arsenal in the 2025 UEFA Champions League final in Budapest, celebrations across France quickly devolved into widespread violent unrest Saturday night, leaving seven police officers injured and sparking more than 400 detentions nationwide, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has confirmed.
The chaos unfolded as tens of thousands of fans poured into public spaces across the country immediately after the final whistle. In Paris alone, roughly 20,000 supporters packed the iconic Champs-Élysées near the Arc de Triomphe, where crowds initially marched through tree-lined avenues, setting off celebratory flares and sounding vehicle horns. But the festive atmosphere quickly soured when small splinter groups split off from the main gathering, engaging in targeted vandalism, arson, and clashes with law enforcement.
According to the Paris Police Prefecture, rioters damaged storefronts, set both rubbish bins and private vehicles on fire, and one small faction even attempted to force entry into a police station in Paris’ upscale 8th Arrondissement. The would-be attackers were quickly dispersed by responding officers, authorities confirmed. Nuñez called the outbreak of violence “absolutely unacceptable”, noting that unrest was recorded in roughly 15 French cities in total. As of Sunday morning, law enforcement had taken nearly 400 people into custody across the country, with almost 300 of those detentions occurring in the capital.
Notably, this is not the first time a PSG Champions League victory has been marred by large-scale unrest. After the club claimed its first Champions League title in 2024, more than 500 arrests were made nationwide, and 201 people were injured in Paris alone. Despite the widespread violence that followed Saturday’s final, French officials have confirmed that pre-planned official victory events will proceed as scheduled. Thousands of fans are expected to gather for a public celebration Sunday afternoon at the Champ de Mars, the large public green space located just steps from the Eiffel Tower. Following the public gathering, the entire PSG squad will travel to the Elysee Palace for an official reception hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.