France Violence
France: Over 200 injured, 780 arrested after PSG victory celebrations erupt into violence
At least 219 people were injured and hundreds arrested after celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Champions League triumph descended into violence across France, according to media reports.
Thousands of police officers were deployed across Paris and other cities as authorities sought to contain unrest that disrupted bus, train and rail services.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 780 people had been arrested in connection with the violence, with more than 450 placed in custody, the BBC reported.
Authorities have since mobilised at least 6,000 police personnel for Sunday's victory parade in Paris, which is expected to draw massive crowds around the Eiffel Tower and other parts of the French capital.
"We are a great country for maintaining public order. We allow freedom of assembly, but not excesses," Nuñez was quoted as saying by the BBC.
Videos circulating on social media showed electric bikes set ablaze on city streets, while some individuals were seen vandalising shops and smashing storefront windows during the unrest.
The violence erupted after PSG secured the UEFA Champions League title, triggering large-scale celebrations that quickly spiralled into clashes between football supporters and law enforcement officials.
Reacting to the incidents, far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticised the disorder and questioned public safety during the celebrations.
Il n’y a qu’en France où la victoire d’un club de foot provoque des émeutes. Il n’y a qu’en France où chacun se sent obligé de s’enfermer chez soi un soir de victoire pour éviter d’être confronté à des violences.
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) May 30, 2026
"Only in France does the victory of a football club spark riots. Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on a night of victory to avoid being confronted with violence," she wrote on X.
Image: @prefetpolice/X
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