Ligue des champions: massive police operation after PSG’s historic win
French law enforcement mobilized extensively following chaotic celebrations across Paris after Paris Saint-Germain secured their second Champions League title.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced Sunday morning that 780 individuals were apprehended nationwide during the unrest following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory. This represents a 32% increase compared to last year’s festivities. Of these arrests, 457 resulted in detentions for further questioning. In 2025, after PSG’s first Champions League triumph, authorities had made 592 arrests, with 491 occurring in Paris alone.
Speaking at a late-night press conference, Nuñez condemned the “absolutely unacceptable” disturbances and revealed that 57 police officers and gendarmes sustained injuries during the chaotic scenes. He emphasized that authorities had anticipated and prepared for such incidents.
Chaos in the capital
Among the incidents reported:
- A fatal motorcycle accident occurred on the Paris ring road in the early hours of Sunday, where a 2002-born rider reportedly struck concrete blocks while exiting near Porte Maillot;
- A pedestrian remains in critical condition after being stabbed in central Paris;
- A driver lost control of his vehicle and plowed into a café terrace, injuring two individuals before fleeing the scene (the victim’s condition is not life-threatening according to authorities);
- Police reported extensive damage to public property and multiple altercations throughout the city.
The Interior Minister acknowledged that while “festive gatherings became marred by serious incidents”, these were anticipated as part of the security planning for such a major sporting event.
Unprecedented security deployment
With 22,000 police officers and gendarmes deployed nationwide—including 8,000 in Paris and its metropolitan area—authorities implemented an exceptional security operation for the Champions League final. The heightened measures covered not only the football celebrations but also:
- A rugby match taking place simultaneously;
- The ongoing French Open tennis tournament;
- Major concerts featuring artists like Aya Nakamura at Stade de France and Damso at Paris La Défense Arena.
