After securing a remarkable Champions League win, Paris Saint-Germain celebrated with an open-top bus parade through Paris on Sunday, drawing enthusiastic crowds.
The team reached Paris on Sunday following a decisive 5-0 victory in Munich the night before, making their way to the iconic Champs-Élysées, France’s famed avenue.
Fans waved blue and red flags eagerly as they awaited the team bus, with a sense of calm prevailing as they stood behind a long line of riot police barriers.
As the parade commenced, supporters cheered when Captain Marquinhos displayed the trophy, which he later passed around to fellow players.
Director Luis Enrique joined in the festivities by singing along to the club anthem, while star forward Ousmane Dembélé blew kisses to the crowd. The team also met with French President Emmanuel Macron later on.
Despite the joyful celebrations for PSG’s first long-awaited Champions League title, tragic incidents marred the evening. The Eiffel Tower shone in team colors as fans celebrated throughout the night.
The club condemned acts of violence that occurred, stating, “This title should represent a moment of collective joy. These isolated incidents contradict the values of our club and do not reflect the majority of our fans.”
While the overnight celebrations were largely peaceful, there were reports of violence in certain areas.
After the final on Saturday night, a tragic incident occurred in Dax where a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a PSG street party. Local prosecutors noted that the violence was apparently unrelated to the football match. In another incident in Paris, a man in his 20s was killed when his scooter was hit by a car during the celebrations, prompting police to detain the driver. Both cases are under investigation.
According to the National Police Agency, officers faced attack with fireworks during a PSG rally in Kutance, resulting in some officers requiring hospitalization. Parisians reported a total of 201 injuries throughout the capital, four of which were serious.
In Grenoble, a car struck pedestrians gathered to celebrate PSG, injuring several, while the driver was detained. During the celebrations, fans were seen hurling projectiles at police and firefighters, leading to confrontations with law enforcement.
Authorities and local officials hoped that Sunday’s events would focus on the team’s triumph rather than the violence, with up to 110,000 fans allowed to gather on the historic Champs-Élysées for the parade. The team planned to continue festivities at their home ground, Parc des Princes, featuring concerts, light shows, and the official Champions League Trophy presentation.
A significant portion of central Paris remained closed to traffic due to the celebrations, with increased security measures implemented across the region.
Thousands of police officers were deployed to maintain order, employing tactics similar to those used the previous night. Reports indicated the use of tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds in instances of unrest.
In addition to injuries and arrests, officials noted that four stores were looted during the festivities. Firefighters had to manage multiple emergencies, as the hotline became overwhelmed with calls.
By 2 AM on Sunday, a total of 294 arrests had been made, including 30 individuals who attempted to break into a shoe store on the Champs-Élysées. Two vehicles were towed near Parc des Princes, according to police reports.
At the Place de la Bastille, fans enjoyed jubilant scenes, climbing the iconic column and engaging in songs, dance, and the occasional flare display, with surrounding attendees joining the celebration.
During this time, motorcyclists revved their engines to cheers from the crowd as they circled the column. The atmosphere was lively, devoid of confrontations, marked instead by singing and camaraderie.
Despite the celebratory spirit, Nunes condemned the sporadic acts of violence that marred the event, recalling similar incidents during previous celebrations in the capital, including those after France’s World Cup win in 2018.
Home Minister Bruno Le Roux expressed his frustration over the violence, stating, “I share the anger of many French citizens… when you fear for your child’s safety during a celebration of a significant sports victory, it is intolerable.”
Fan Take: This news highlights both the euphoria of soccer victories and the darker undercurrents that can arise in the aftermath. For soccer fans, it underscores the importance of celebrating responsibly, fostering a safe environment where joy can flourish without violence.
