PSG’s Champions League victory was met with violence and violence overnight in Paris | Football News

Paris Saint-Germain won 6-5 in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, but it came down to home problems.

At least 130 people were arrested around Paris overnight as fans clashed with police after Paris Saint-Germain reached the Champions League final, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.

He told Europe 1 radio on Thursday that the total number of arrests was 127 in the city of Paris, including 107 in Paris, after those arrested. PSG eliminated Bayern Munich second straight final and third since 2020.

He said 11 people were injured in the riots, including a serious injury to someone who used a mortar, and 23 policemen were slightly injured. Riots broke out outside PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium and on the Champs-Elysees as police dispersed groups and prevented the Paris ring road from being blocked by rioters.

“I strongly oppose this, there are always hundreds of people with a lot of problems at these festivals who seem to be in conflict with the police,” Nunez said. “I want to thank the chief of police and all his teams who intervened on my instructions, and those who led me.”

He also credited them for preventing property damage and shoplifting.

Nunez said security will be stepped up for the May 30 final against Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary.

Nunez appeared to be mocking recently elected Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire – a frequent attendee of PSG matches – for announcing the creation of a sports center in Paris last week without first consulting the police.

“We have to see where this fan section is going to prepare,” added Nunez.

The history of football violence in Paris and beyond

Riots have become common in Paris and elsewhere in France in recent years.

After PSG won the Champions League last year, police made more than 500 arrests across France. A man in his 20s was killed in Paris when his scooter was hit by a car during PSG celebrations.

The problems continued the next day.

Paris police arrested 148 people after fans clashed with police and smashed cars and shop windows after the club lost the 2020 final against Bayern.

When PSG won the French title in 2013 – ending a 19-year wait – the celebrations were cut short the next day after violent incidents in which fans clashed with riot police for several hours, leaving 30 people injured.

There were also events on the Champs-Elysees following Algeria’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, and in 2021 following the match between Morocco and Algeria in the Arab Cup, and in 2022 France and Morocco both participated in the semifinals of the World Cup on the same day.