PSG wins second consecutive Champions League title; Paris sees clashes with police

Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Champions League final Saturday, defeating Arsenal on penalties in Budapest to claim its second consecutive title. The victory triggered celebrations across Paris that escalated into widespread disturbances.

Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in the French capital following the match. Approximately 20,000 people congregated on the Champs-Élysées, while over 40,000 watched the final on giant screens at the Parc des Princes stadium in western Paris. Supporters marched through avenues near the Arc de Triomphe, setting off flares and sounding car horns as news of the penalty victory spread.

Disorder broke out in multiple locations across Paris as celebrations intensified. Groups of supporters set fires, used public rental bicycles as barricades, and vandalized shops. Police in riot gear deployed teargas to control crowds. One police officer was injured by fireworks during the disturbances. Smaller groups attempted to assault a police station in the 8th arrondissement of the capital.

Arrest figures varied across reports. Paris police detained 45 people at police stations, while at least 336 people were arrested overall during the evening. Dozens of people were injured in clashes with law enforcement.

French authorities had prepared extensively for the celebrations. Paris deployed 22,000 police officers across the capital to maintain order at known gathering points, drawing on experience from previous large events that have resulted in violent clashes. The deployment reflected concerns about potential disorder following PSG's first Champions League victory last year, when two people died and close to 200 were injured across France. That incident saw 500 arrests in Paris alone.

The disturbances began even before the final concluded in Budapest and intensified as celebrations progressed throughout Saturday evening. The areas most affected included the surroundings of Parc des Princes, the Champs-Élysées, and various central sectors where thousands of PSG supporters had gathered.