Two fans lost their lives and a police officer was placed in an induced coma amid widespread celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) historic Champions League victory, French authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Celebrations turned tragic in Dax, where a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a PSG street party. In Paris, a man died after his scooter collided with a car amid the jubilant crowds, according to the Interior Ministry. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
Violence also erupted in Coutances, northwestern France, where a police officer suffered severe eye injuries after being accidentally struck by fireworks. He has since been placed in an artificial coma, the national police said.
Although the majority of the nationwide festivities remained peaceful, disturbances broke out in multiple locations. A total of 559 arrests were made across France, including 491 in Paris alone, as large crowds gathered to celebrate PSG’s 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich—securing the club’s first-ever Champions League title.
The Champs-Élysées in Paris became a focal point of the celebrations, with jubilant fans converging on the avenue. Tensions flared near the Arc de Triomphe, where police deployed water cannons to prevent crowds from breaching barriers. Two vehicles were set ablaze near Parc des Princes, PSG’s home ground.
“A judicial investigation will determine whether or not it (the fatality in Paris) can be linked to the celebrations. At this stage, it appears to be connected to the festivities,” police chief said.
Elsewhere in the city, the mood remained festive. At the Place de la Bastille, fans climbed monuments, set off flares and sang late into the night without police interference.
Security forces had braced for potential unrest, deploying 5,400 officers across key locations in Paris and its suburbs. A celebratory parade on the Champs-Élysées is planned for Sunday to welcome the team home.
The police chief warned that more skirmishes could occur on Sunday as PSG will parade on the Champs Elysees before celebrating the title with their fans at the Parc des Princes stadium.
“We’re at halftime, so to speak, as this afternoon we have the parade taking place on the Champs Elysees,” he said. “Only those attending the parade will be allowed on site. A maximum attendance of just over 100,000 people has been set — beyond that, no-one else will be allowed in,” the chief added.
(With agency inputs)