Two people died and nearly 300 were arrested as celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s historic first Champions League title descended into violence across France, authorities confirmed Sunday, casting a dark shadow over what should have been the nation’s greatest sporting triumph in years.
The tragedy unfolded hours after PSG’s dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan Saturday night sent millions into the streets to celebrate a dream decades in the making. While the Eiffel Tower blazed in the club’s colors and euphoric crowds filled city squares from Paris to provincial towns, the night’s joy would be forever marked by senseless loss.
Lives Lost in Celebration
In Dax, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death during a street party that turned violent. In Paris, a man in his twenties died when his scooter was struck by a car amid the chaotic festivities. The victims’ names have not been released pending family notification.
The violence extended to those sworn to protect the celebrations. In Coutances, a police officer suffered severe eye injuries from a firework explosion and remains in an artificial coma, fighting for his life as the nation he served celebrated around him.
Capital in Crisis
Paris bore the brunt of the chaos. By dawn, 192 people had been injured in the capital alone—four critically—according to Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez. Firefighters battled blazes throughout the city as their emergency lines became overwhelmed. Burning trash bins lit the night while looters ransacked a shoe store on the prestigious Champs-Élysées.
Police deployed tear gas and water cannons near both Parc des Princes and the Arc de Triomphe as crowds turned unruly. By 2 a.m., authorities had made 294 arrests across the city, with charges ranging from public disorder to theft.
“What began as pure joy became a nightmare we never anticipated,” said one emergency responder who worked through the night.
Joy Amid the Darkness
Yet amid the violence, genuine celebration persisted. At Place de la Bastille, thousands of fans climbed monuments, danced, and sang PSG chants deep into the night. Many gatherings remained peaceful, filled with families and lifelong supporters savoring a moment they had waited generations to experience.
The victory itself was undeniably historic. PSG’s crushing defeat of Inter Milan completed a remarkable treble and delivered the Champions League trophy that had eluded the club despite years of massive investment and global ambition.
A Nation Reflects
Sunday’s planned victory parade on the Champs-Élysées will proceed with heightened security as up to 110,000 supporters are expected. Large sections of central Paris remain closed as authorities work to prevent further violence during the official trophy presentation and concert at Parc des Princes.
President Emmanuel Macron, who had earlier congratulated PSG on their triumph, has yet to comment on the night’s tragedies. Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra called the violence “unacceptable” and pledged a full investigation.
As France awakens to both triumph and tragedy, the nation confronts an uncomfortable truth: even in moments of pure sporting joy, the capacity for darkness remains. The question now is whether Sunday’s celebrations can honor PSG’s achievement while preventing further senseless loss.
In sports, victory is supposed to unite. Saturday night proved that even in our greatest moments of joy, we remain capable of our worst impulses. The challenge ahead is ensuring that future celebrations reflect the best of what brings us together, not the worst of what tears us apart.