PSG Champions League victory: night of celebrations in Paris, 2 deaths and 559 arrests during the celebrations

By The New Obs with AFP

Published on June 1, 2025 at 8:40 a.m. , updated on June 1, 2025 at 10:35 a.m.

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Scenes of jubilation multiplied in Paris and elsewhere on the night of Saturday 31 to Sunday 1 June following PSG's 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich in the Champions League final, with supporters gathering around the Parc des Princes and the Champs-Élysées, and a few incidents, notably in Grenoble. However, the celebrations were marred by several tragedies, with two people – a minor in Dax and a woman in Paris – dying during the celebrations.

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Even without a player on the pitch, the Parc des Princes resonated like it does for the most beautiful matches and roared with each of the five goals scored by the Parisians, who put on an undisputed display against Inter Milan (5-0) for their first Champions League title in history. "It's as if the match was happening at home," said rapper Vacra, one of the actors in the pre-match show at the Parc des Princes where 48,000 tickets were put on sale for the occasion to enjoy the final with four giant screens at the center circle.

Some 11.5 million viewers tuned in on Saturday evening to watch Paris Saint-Germain's victory on M6 and Canal+, according to figures released by Médiamétrie and the encrypted channel on Sunday, June 1.

"In tachycardia"

A PSG supporter for over 20 years, Clément, wearing a Dembélé jersey, exults: "It's so good! And so deserved! We have a song that talks about struggles and battles, it hasn't always been easy. But we found faith again this year with a team without a star. It's 11 guys who play for each other . " "I expected to be racing the whole match and in the end we won it from the start. What a demonstration!" enthuses Simon, wearing a PSG jersey from 1992, the year he was born, on his back.

As soon as the final whistle blew, a sound and light show with flames illuminated the pitch while a few kilometers further on, the Eiffel Tower shone brightly in the colors of Paris.

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But outside, the supporters gathered in particular on the Champs-Elysées, closed to cars for the occasion, and on the Place du Trocadéro, celebrated the coronation much earlier, with loud blasts of firecrackers, chants and honking horns.

In Marseille (southeast), even "disgusted" by the victory of the hated Parisian rival, football fans recognize that PSG "deserved" the trophy... that OM, the city's team, had won 32 years ago. "The star on the jersey, we were the first to have had it, and no one will take that away from us," boasts Walid, wearing an OM jersey and arriving long before kick-off to reserve a table in front of the screens. "We are breathless. We don't know what to say... Only [the rapper] Jul can console the people of Marseille," says his friend Benoît, looking dejected.

A parade is planned for Sunday on the Champs-Élysées to present the trophy, starting at 5 p.m. The Parisian team will also be received by President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday at the Élysée Palace around 7 p.m.

The demonstrations of joy were not without their share of violence: the 5,400 police officers and gendarmes deployed for the evening in Paris and its surrounding area used water cannons on the Champs-Élysées and had to evacuate supporters who had descended on the ring road surrounding the capital even as the match was still being played. By 2 a.m., 294 people had been arrested, notably for "possession of fireworks and incendiary products," according to the police headquarters.

On Saturday, the Interior Ministry announced more than 500 arrests – 559, including 491 in Paris – which led to 320 people being taken into custody, including 254 in Paris.

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