Riot police use tear gas to disperse PSG fans after chaos erupts during the Champions League final
Police officers run to disperse PSG supporters on the Champs-Elysées during the UEFA Champions League final (Image: (Photo by ROMEO BOETZLE / AFP via Getty Images))
French police deployed tear gas and clashed with PSG fans amid chaos in Paris during the Champions League final against Arsenal. In Budapest, Kai Havertz put the Gunners ahead after just five minutes and within seconds police and French supporters were clashing.
Footage shared on social media showed PSG fans running away from police near the Parc des Princes stadium. Reports said fans aimed fireworks at police officers, who then used tear gas.
Videos shared online showed horrifying crash sounds and carnage taking place across the capital as both Arsenal and PSG scored.
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Dozens of arrests were made in central Paris tonight after thousands of soccer fans went on a rampage after PSG’s victory over Arsenal in the European Champions League final.
The worst trouble was in the city’s Chatelet district, between Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre. Tear gas and batons were used against crowds who had gathered to watch the match on television screens outside bars and cafes in the sweltering heat on Saturday afternoon.
An onlooker said, “The trouble started the moment Arsenal took a one-goal lead.” “Chairs and bottles were thrown at police and police were called out to make arrests.”
Riots broke out in Paris as PSG supporters celebrated their Champions League final victory over Arsenal. (Image: AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Some Paris Saint-Germain fans managed to climb the scaffolding of a building near Rue de Rivoli, one of the French capital’s main shopping streets, but they caused further trouble as police tried to take them down.
More skirmishes then broke out as some cafes turned off their televisions. By the end of the game, 39 people had been arrested and approximately 1,600 people had been stopped and searched by police.
Police and PSG supporters clash in Paris during the Champions League final. (Image: (Photo by LOU BENOIST / AFP via Getty Images))
Among the items police seized were weapons and fireworks. Around 5,000 police and gendarmes were placed on the streets of Paris to deal with the crowds that gathered to watch the final in Budapest.
The problem of violence in soccer is becoming increasingly serious across France. A year ago, around 43 people were arrested when Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal to reach the European Champions League final.
Riots broke out in Paris and other parts of France, with hooded youths engaging in fierce battles with riot police. The worst incident occurred near the Champs-Elysées, when a car plowed into a group of fans.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Many Paris fans visited Hungary this year, but tens of thousands more remained on the streets of the French capital.
PSG won the competition last year, but their victory was marred by unrest in the streets, with two people killed and 500 arrested during post-match disorderly scenes.
