Tragedy Strikes PSG Celebrations: Two Lives Lost, Hundreds Detained, and Officer in Coma

Tragedy struck in France overnight as two individuals lost their lives, a police officer was placed in an induced coma, and hundreds were arrested amid the jubilant celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s remarkable victory in the Champions League final.

The epicentre of the excitement was Paris, where car horns blared, cheers rang out, and fireworks illuminated the night sky in celebration of PSG’s 5-0 win over Inter Milan in Munich.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 491 individuals were detained in the capital as crowds flocked to the Champs-Élysées, where skirmishes erupted between revelers and law enforcement.

Nationwide, including Paris, a total of 559 arrests were made in connection with the celebrations.

The two fatalities occurred amid the festivities, and a police officer has been placed in an induced coma following injuries sustained from fireworks.

Initial reports indicate that the officer, stationed in the Normandy region, was struck in the eye when a firework detonated unexpectedly, according to a police source.

“An investigation has been initiated for intentional violence against a public authority figure,” stated Gauthier Poupeau, the public prosecutor for the northwestern town of Coutances.

In a separate incident in Paris, a man riding a scooter lost his life after colliding with a car in the 15th arrondissement, located just a short distance from the Champs-Élysées.

Meanwhile, in the southwestern town of Dax, prosecutors reported that a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during the PSG victory celebrations. His death occurred shortly after the match, and although the prosecutor’s office could not confirm whether the incident was linked to the Champions League final, they noted that the suspect remained “at large.”

The PSG team is scheduled to hold a victory parade along the Champs-Élysées on Sunday, with tens of thousands of supporters expected to gather to welcome their heroes back.

However, overnight, AFP journalists observed police deploying a water cannon to prevent a crowd from reaching the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées.

“Troublemakers on the Champs-Élysées aimed to incite chaos, repeatedly clashing with police by launching large fireworks and other projectiles,” police stated in a communiqué.

Elsewhere, a vehicle drove into a group of fans celebrating PSG’s win in Grenoble, located in southeastern France, resulting in four injuries, two of which were serious. All the victims were from the same family, according to authorities.

The driver voluntarily surrendered to the police and was subsequently arrested; a source close to the investigation suggested that the incident was not intentional.

The public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the driver tested negative for both alcohol and drugs.

‘Day of Glory’

While the majority of fans celebrated without incident, police in Paris reported clashes near the Champs-Élysées and at PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, where 48,000 supporters had gathered to watch the 5-0 victory on large screens.

Most of those apprehended in the capital were suspected of illegal possession of fireworks and causing disturbances, according to police.

The triumph marked PSG’s first win of the prestigious European club competition in their history.

One 20-year-old PSG fan, Clement, expressed his joy, stating: “It’s incredible and so well deserved! We have a chant that reflects our struggles, and it hasn’t always been easy.

“But this year we’ve found our faith again with a team that may not have stars, but 11 players who fight for one another.”

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced that he would host the victorious players on Sunday to extend his congratulations.

In a message on X, Macron celebrated a “day of glory for PSG.”

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo referred to the win as a “historic” triumph.

According to audience ratings from Mediametrie and one of the broadcasters, Canal+, an impressive 11.5 million viewers across France tuned in to watch the match.