Following PSG's historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan, France witnessed a night of celebrations marred by tragedy and violence, resulting in two deaths and hundreds arrested. According to the French interior ministry, two individuals— a 17-year-old boy in Dax, fatally stabbed and a 23-year-old man in Paris, struck by a vehicle—lost their lives amidst the jubilation gone awry. Reports confirm that tensions escalated, with fans celebrating enthusiastically through flares and fireworks, leading to damaged bus shelters and set ablaze cars.
The PSG club condemned the violence, asserting that such "isolated acts" contradicted the values of the majority of their supporters. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed these sentiments, deeming the clashes "unacceptable," and vowed to seek justice for those involved.
Despite the chaos, PSG's scheduled victory parade along the Champs-Élysées proceeded with heightened security. Police enforced a cap on attendance to 100,000 fans. Reports indicated that once celebrations resumed Sunday, the atmosphere turned calmer, though clashes continued with police arresting 559 people, predominantly in Paris.
In light of the violence, Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez stated that while injuries were fewer than in past incidents, any form of abuse remains intolerable. Looting was also reported in central Paris, prompting swift police action to detain several suspects involved.
Amidst the unrest, Dax's Mayor expressed sorrow over the stabbing, urging a quick resolution to the situation's complexities. In an ironic contrast to the chaos, most fans celebrated PSG's victory in peace, filling the streets with songs while the Eiffel Tower was ablaze with the club's colors.
In subsequent incidents, a car drove into a gathering of PSG fans in Grenoble, injuring four from the same family, with reports suggesting the driver acted unintentionally. Such developments fueled ongoing discussions about public safety during celebratory events, highlighting the need for better crowd management in future occasions, ensuring that moments of pride do not descend into chaos.
