Two Dead, Hundreds Arrested as PSG Champions League Win Sparks Chaotic Night Across France
By Wafric - Breaking News
WafricNews – June 1st, 2025
Paris, France – A historic night of football glory turned grim across France after Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) emphatic Champions League victory ended in tragedy and mass arrests.
What began as jubilant celebrations following PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the final quickly descended into unrest, with the French Interior Ministry confirming two deaths and at least 559 arrests nationwide by Sunday morning.
Paris at the Heart of the Mayhem
In the capital, where fans swarmed the Champs-Elysees and lit up the night with fireworks and chants, authorities reported 491 arrests. Riot police deployed water cannons in a tense standoff with rowdy groups attempting to reach the Arc de Triomphe, disrupting what was meant to be a night of pure celebration.
Police said the clashes were fueled by individuals they described as “troublemakers” hurling fireworks and other projectiles at security forces.
Around Parc des Princes, PSG’s home ground where over 48,000 fans gathered to watch the final on big screens, smaller skirmishes were reported as authorities moved in to disperse crowds.
Celebrations Turn Deadly
Tragedy struck in two separate incidents. In southern Paris, a man on a scooter lost his life after being hit by a car, just a few kilometres from the central festivities.
Even more shocking, in the southwestern town of Dax, a 17-year-old was fatally stabbed during a post-match gathering. While prosecutors have not confirmed a direct link to the PSG celebrations, the incident occurred shortly after the final whistle. The suspect remains at large.
Elsewhere, in Grenoble, a car ploughed into a group of revelers, injuring four members of the same family—two seriously. Police later confirmed the driver turned himself in and alcohol and drug tests returned negative, suggesting the act was unintentional.
Anti-riot police detain a person on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris
Victory Parade Amid Tight Security
Despite the overnight chaos, PSG’s victory parade went ahead on Sunday along the Champs-Elysees, with thousands of supporters lining the avenue to salute their heroes, who delivered the club’s first-ever Champions League title.
The win marks a historic milestone for the Parisian club, long regarded as underachievers on Europe’s biggest stage.
Macron Joins in the Celebration
President Emmanuel Macron, an avowed football fan, took to social media platform X to celebrate the achievement, calling it a “day of glory” for the club. He is also expected to host the team for an official reception.
Meanwhile, fans across France continue to revel in the long-awaited triumph. Clément, 20, a PSG supporter, told WafricNews: “It’s unbelievable. We’ve waited for this moment for so long. This team, with no egos, just unity. They’ve given us our faith back.”
Massive Audience, Mixed Aftermath
According to Médiamétrie, an estimated 11.5 million people tuned in to watch PSG’s historic victory—making it one of the most-watched Champions League finals in French TV history.
But as the smoke clears and the celebrations settle, authorities are left to assess the damage of a night that brought both national pride—and painful loss.
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