Two people have died while hundreds more were injured during PSG supporters’ celebrations following the club’s Champions League final victory against Inter Milan on Saturday (May 31).
PSG defeated Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, Germany, to become the second French team to lift the Champions League.
A night of celebration in the French capital and various other parts of the nation was overshadowed by disorder.
The French interior ministry said 192 people were injured and there were 692 fires, including 264 involving vehicles.
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Several reports from the country, which were relayed by Sky News, suggest a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death while celebrating PSG's win in the southern commune of Dax.
A 23-year-old man also died after being hit by a car while riding a scooter.
A duty magistrate told AFP: “A 17-year-old minor died during the night from his injuries at Dax hospital. It happened during PSG celebrations, but the link, like whether they were supporters, cannot be confirmed at this stage.”
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559 arrests were made across the nation, with 320 taken into police custody – 254 were said to be in Paris.
5,400 police officers were deployed across Paris and were seen using tear gas and pepper spray on the Champs Élysées - a renowned avenue featuring various high-end shops and the Arc de Triomphe.
In an interview with French TV station Canal+, PSG forward Ousmane Dembele urged fans to “celebrate” the victory but “not tear everything up in Paris”.
A statement from French police, relayed by BBC Sport, read: “Troublemakers on the Champs-Élysées were looking to create incidents and repeatedly came into contact with police by throwing large fireworks and other objects.”
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Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau took to social media, writing:
“True PSG fans are getting excited about their team’s magnificent performance. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke law enforcement.
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“I have asked the internal security forces to react vigorously to these abuses. I offer my support to the Police Prefect and all the police officers who are ensuring everyone’s safety this evening.
“It is unbearable that it is not possible to party without fearing the savagery of a minority of thugs who respect nothing.”
It was also reported that a car ploughed into PSG fans in the southwestern city of Grenoble, leaving four people injured, including two seriously injured.
The driver handed himself in to the police and was arrested, with AFP news agency reporting that the driver was not thought to have acted intentionally.
Topics: PSG, Champions League, Football, Ousmane Dembele
Luke Davies