Paris police make 45 arrests as PSG title celebrations turn violent
Paris police make 45 arrests as PSG title celebrations turn violent
French police arrested at least 45 people in Paris on Saturday, May 30, 2026, after street celebrations marking Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final victory over Arsenal deteriorated into disorder, with vehicles set alight, businesses vandalized and crowds clashing with officers across the French capital.
Large gatherings formed along the Champs-Élysées and near the Arc de Triomphe following the match, which was played in Budapest. Flares were set off and car horns sounded as police worked to contain the crowds. Authorities said a group attempted to storm a police station, while separate incidents saw a bakery and a restaurant damaged. A crowd also temporarily blocked the ring road encircling the city before being dispersed. One police officer sustained an injury during the unrest, and the arrest total stood at a minimum of 45 as of 10 p.m. local time, according to the Paris police prefecture.
The scale of the disorder was significantly smaller than that which followed PSG’s previous Champions League triumph. On that occasion, more than 200 people were reported injured in Paris and more than 500 arrests were recorded across France, establishing a pattern of serious post-match unrest tied to the club’s European successes.
Whether authorities will face pressure to introduce stricter crowd-management measures ahead of any future title celebrations in the capital remains an open question, particularly given the repeated nature of the disturbances.
