PSG won the Champions League title for the second year in a row after defeating Arsenal on penalties, but celebrations in Paris turned ugly as police deployed tear gas and made 416 arrests
A group of individuals are gathered on a street, surrounded by a dense cloud of pink and red smoke. Several individuals are seen holding and aiming what appear to be firearms, while others are engaged in an apparent confrontation, suggesting a tense or possibly violent situation.
Clashes occurred with French riot police as Paris Saint-Germain's supporters celebrated their win over Arsenal(Image: Abdullah Firas/ABACA/Shutterstock)
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French police arrested 416 people in the early hours of Sunday morning as PSG's Champions League celebrations descended into chaos following their victory over Arsenal. The Parisian giants had to overturn an early Kai Havertz goal in Budapest.
Ousmane Dembele levelled from the penalty spot, and the match went to a shootout with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both missing from 12 yards. And as jubilation swept through the French capital, with PSG claiming back-to-back European crowns, thousands of officers were deployed to contain disorder that disrupted bus, train and rail services as festivities began to spiral out of control in the streets.
Fireworks and flares were ignited as police officers sustained injuries while using tear gas in an attempt to scatter the crowds that had assembled in the city centre. The Champs-Élysées was packed with Parisian supporters and red smoke, as football fans descended on the famous boulevard.
Ahead of Saturday's European showpiece, footage emerged on social media of businesses boarding up shop windows and taking extreme measures to limit damage following the final. Fresh video evidence was brought to light showing celebrations that rapidly deteriorated into disorder as confrontations with police went viral.
According to French authorities, 416 people had been detained in the early hours of Sunday, including 280 in Paris. Interior minister Laurent Nunez described the disorder as "absolutely unacceptable." He added there was a "very robust, very solid system in place" to prevent violence.
A police spokesperson stated: "Our responsibility is to guarantee everyone a festive celebration that is calm and fully secure."
Far-right politician Marine Le Pen took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to declare that "only in France does a football club's victory spark riots.
An image depicting a large gathering of individuals in front of a prominent structure, the Eiffel Tower, with visible smoke and fire in the foreground. The atmosphere suggests a scene of unrest, with law enforcement personnel positioned nearby. The iconic tower is illuminated in the background, contrasting with the turmoil unfolding at the ground level.
Chaos ensued in Paris after PSG's Champions League final victory over Arsenal(Image: AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
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"Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on the evening of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence."
PSG players are due to return to the capital on Sunday as part of their victory parade. The procession will take them from the Champ-de-Mars, adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, before a reception hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
For Arsenal supporters, they watched on across London and in the Emirates Stadium having missed out on a ticket to Budapest. But they will also return to the capital on Sunday for a parade after ending their two-decade-long wait to return to the summit of English football.
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