PSG Champions League final match ends in chaos, 2 dead, hundreds arrested

Two people have died and hundreds have been arrested across France amid raucous celebrations after Paris Saint-Germain’s Champion’s League final victory on the night of Saturday, June 1, 2025.

Online media reports say that cars were torched as flares and fireworks were set off while supporters clashed with police in the French capital on Saturday night following the match in Munich.

491 people were arrested in Paris when crowds converged on the Champs-Élysées avenue, the French interior ministry said on Sunday.

A further 68 people were arrested outside Paris.

The deaths included a 17-year-old boy who died after he was reportedly stabbed in the chest late on Saturday evening in In the south-west town of Dax.

A man, 23, who was riding a scooter in central Paris was also killed after being hit by a vehicle, according to French authorities.

The interior ministry said 18 police officers in Paris were injured, along with three elsewhere in France, as were 192 people celebrating in the streets.

Seven fire-service personnel were also hurt.

A police officer was placed in an induced coma in France’s Normandy region after being injured by fireworks.

The officer was struck in the eye after a firework went off accidentally, a police source told Agence France-Presse.

AFP said 692 fires were reported through the night, including 264 cars that were set ablaze.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, was due to host the victorious players on Sunday to congratulate them after their victory over Inter Milan.

France’s interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, posted on social media on Saturday after the game:

“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 … It is unbearable that it is not possible to party without fearing the savagery of a minority of thugs who respect nothing.”

About 5,400 police were deployed across the city for the post-match celebrations, with officers on the Champs-Élysées using teargas and pepper spray to maintain order.

A police spokesperson said a car was set alight near the Parc des Princes stadium and several dozen arrests had been made by the time the match ended, Reuters reported.

Traffic around the Arc de Triomphe was blocked from midday on Saturday with the Champs-Élysées and nearby streets also closed on Saturday evening.

Earlier, in Munich, PSG and Inter Milan supporters threw stones at each other at Fröttmaning station while travelling to the Allianz arena for the final, Bild reported.

They also caused travel disruption by making their way on to train tracks, according to reports.

Clashes Before the Final in Munich

Hours before the final, violent clashes broke out between radical PSG and Inter Milan fans in Munich.

The confrontations occurred in the metro and around the Allianz Arena.

German police intervened swiftly, deploying riot police and using tear gas to disperse the groups.

Inside the stadium, PSG fans ignited flares after early goals, creating smoke that nearly led to a temporary suspension of the match.

Official Responses and Political Fallout

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence, attributing it to hooligans.

His remarks sparked political backlash, with some viewing his choice of words as racially charged.

Despite prior warnings and a heavy police presence, the violence escalated, prompting continued deployment ahead of planned victory celebrations with President Macron.

The French Football Federation labeled the incidents as “unacceptable,” and both PSG and Lyon condemned the violence.

Lyon officials noted a “clear error” in route planning that led to the clashes between their fans and PSG supporters.

The incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of future football events in France.

While PSG’s Champions League victory was a historic achievement for the club, the associated violence has cast a shadow over the celebration, highlighting ongoing issues with fan behavior and public safety.

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