What should have been the most joyous evening in Paris Saint-Germain’s history instead became a nightmare that left two people dead and a city in ruins
The champagne corks were still popping in Munich when Paris began to burn. As PSG players celebrated their historic Champions League triumph over Inter Milan, their home city descended into chaos that would claim two lives and leave authorities questioning how football’s greatest prize could trigger such devastation.
The story of Saturday night isn’t just about a football victory – it’s about how celebration turned to catastrophe in the space of 90 minutes.
When Dreams Became Nightmares
By half-time, PSG were cruising 2-0 against Inter Milan thanks to goals from Achraf Hakimi and Désiré Doué. Back in Paris, thousands had gathered on the iconic Champs-Élysées to witness history. But what started as pure joy was already turning sinister.
Police deployed water cannons even before the final whistle, desperately trying to protect the Place de l’Étoile as barriers crumbled under the pressure of surging crowds. Many weren’t even watching the match – they were there for trouble.
The Human Cost
The statistics paint a horrifying picture of the night that followed PSG’s greatest triumph:
- Two people dead: A 17-year-old boy stabbed in the chest and a 20-year-old woman struck by a vehicle
- 426 arrests across France, with 417 in Paris alone
- 216 people held in custody by Sunday morning
- 205 injured, including 13 police officers
- 148 fires extinguished by firefighters
- 46 vehicles set ablaze
Chaos on the Champs-Élysées
Between 2,000 and 3,000 people had congregated on Paris’s most famous avenue, but celebration quickly gave way to confrontation. Shocking footage spread across social media showing police armed with batons clashing with rioters as tear gas filled the air.
Shops were looted, missiles hurled at officers, and the city’s emergency services worked through the night to contain the mayhem. The very streets where PSG fans should have been dancing were instead battlegrounds.
The Minister’s Fury
France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau didn’t mince words when addressing the violence. Taking to social media, he drew a stark line between genuine supporters and the troublemakers:
“True PSG fans are getting excited about their team’s magnificent performance. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke law enforcement.”
His message was clear: “It is unbearable that it is not possible to party without fearing the savagery of a minority of thugs who respect nothing.”
The Show Must Go On
Despite the scars still visible on the Champs-Élysées from the night’s violence, PSG’s victory parade will proceed as planned on Sunday afternoon. Giant screens, speakers, and music will transform the same streets that witnessed such chaos just hours earlier.
It’s a defiant statement that football’s beauty won’t be overshadowed by the ugliness of a violent minority.
