Fast 900 Arrests after Riots around PSG Champions League Triumph

Interior Minister: "Absolutely Unacceptable"

Nuñez explained that the authorities had anticipated riots and prepared accordingly. "There were festive demonstrations accompanied by a number of disturbances, which corresponds to the situation we expected and therefore foresaw. These disturbances are absolutely unacceptable," the minister said.

Looting and property damage also occurred in other cities such as Rennes, Strasbourg, Clermont-Ferrand, and Grenoble. Videos circulating on social media showed burning cars, erected barricades, and fireworks being fired at people.

Significantly More Arrests Than Last Year

According to the ministry, the number of arrests is about 45 percent higher than last year, when PSG defeated Inter Milan in the final in Munich. At that time, 559 people were arrested after riots, two people died, and almost 200 were injured.

President Emmanuel Macron received the team on Sunday at the Élysée Palace and sharply condemned the violence. "This is not football, this is not sport, this is not what we love. We will be uncompromising with those who were caught," Macron said.

Macron Announces Tough Action

Macron also emphasized: "We do not want this to happen again. It is over. We have had enough. This must stop." He announced tough action against the arrested rioters.

PSG won the Champions League final in Budapest against FC Arsenal 4-3 on penalties. It was the club's second title in its history and a successful defense of the title from the previous year.

Around 40,000 fans watched the match at a public viewing event at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. After the final whistle, according to police, about 20,000 supporters streamed onto the Champs-Élysées.

Fatal Accident on the Périphérique

On the Paris ring road, the Périphérique, supporters stormed the roadway and blocked traffic. A motorcyclist died in an accident when he collided with concrete blocks placed at an exit.

Nuñez told France Inter that the high number of arrests showed that the security forces had done their job well. At the same time, he admitted that there were "a certain number of people" who "take advantage of these festive moments to riot and loot."

Authorities expect the numbers to change as further evaluations are conducted. The scenes were reminiscent of the riots after last year's Champions League triumph, when authorities counted almost 700 fires, mainly of cars.

Team Reception at the Eiffel Tower

In the afternoon after the final, the PSG team was received in Paris near the Eiffel Tower. Numerous supporters gathered peacefully on the Champ de Mars and celebrated the team led by captain Marquinhos and coach Luis Enrique.

The riots significantly overshadowed the sporting celebrations. While the team was honored at the Élysée Palace, police investigations and cleanup operations were underway in several cities.

Interior Minister Nuñez reiterated that security forces must continue to expect such a mix of celebration and violence in the future. The incidents showed that the operational concepts were fundamentally sound but needed further adaptation.