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Police Officer in Coma as PSG Champions League Celebrations Turn Deadly—Two Dead, 559 Arrested
TWO PEOPLE DIED, police officer in coma, hundreds were arrested, and cars were set ablaze in France overnight as football fans celebrated Paris Saint-Germain’s stunning Champions League final victory last night, as reported by the French interior ministry today.
The epicenter of the euphoria was in Paris, which was alive with car horns, cheers, singing in the streets, and fireworks throughout the night following PSG’s 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in Munich. The ministry stated that 491 people were arrested in the capital when crowds gathered on the Champs-Elysees avenue and clashes erupted with officers. In total, across France, including Paris, there were 559 arrests.
Tragedy struck during the celebrations when two deaths occurred. A man riding a motor scooter in Paris died after being hit by a car in the city’s southern 15th arrondissement, just a couple of kilometers from the Champs-Elysees. In the southwestern town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a gathering celebrating PSG’s victory, though prosecutors mentioned it was uncertain whether the incident was directly related to the Champions League final. The perpetrator is reportedly “on the run.”
According to the interior ministry, 18 police officers in Paris sustained injuries, along with three elsewhere in France, and 192 people celebrating in the streets were also hurt. Seven fire-service personnel were reported injured. The night saw 692 fires, including 264 cars that were set ablaze.
Victory parade preparations are underway as the PSG team is set to hold a victory parade on the Champs-Elysees today, with tens of thousands of supporters expected to gather to catch a glimpse of their returning heroes. Overnight, AFP journalists observed police using a water cannon on the famed thoroughfare to prevent crowds from reaching the Arc de Triomphe.
Police issued a statement indicating that “troublemakers” clashed with officers, throwing large fireworks and other objects. One policeman is in an induced coma after being struck in the eye by a firework in Normandy, according to prosecutors.
Elsewhere, in Grenoble, southeastern France, a car plowed into fans celebrating PSG’s win, injuring four, two of them seriously. All those injured were from the same family, and the driver turned himself in to the police and was subsequently arrested. A source suggested the driver did not act intentionally, and public prosecutors indicated he tested negative for alcohol and drugs.
This victory marks PSG’s first win of the biggest prize in European club football in their history. One 20-year-old PSG supporter, Clement, expressed, “It’s so good and so deserved! We have a song that talks about our struggles and it hasn’t always been easy. But we got our faith back this year with a team without stars. They’re 11 guys who play for each other.”
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced he would host the victorious players on Sunday to congratulate them. In a message on X, Macron referred to it as a “day of glory for PSG.” Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo hailed the win as “historic.”
A total of 11.5 million people tuned in across France to watch the match, according to figures from Mediametrie, the audience-measurement company, and one of the broadcasters, Canal+.