Paris Saint-Germain's historic first Champions League victory was marred by tragedy and unrest overnight, as two people lost their lives and nearly 560 were arrested during wild celebrations across France. The Paris-based club secured a sensational 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final in Munich, prompting jubilant scenes that quickly turned chaotic in several cities.
The epicentre of the celebrations was Paris, where thousands of fans gathered on the Champs-Elysées and around the Parc des Princes stadium. But amid the euphoria, violent clashes broke out. According to the Interior Ministry, 491 people were arrested in the capital alone, largely for possession of fireworks and public disorder. Across the country, a total of 559 arrests were made.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Tragically, two deaths occurred during the night. In Paris, a man riding a motor scooter was killed after being hit by a car in the 15th arrondissement, just a couple of kilometres from the Champs-Elysées. Meanwhile, in Dax, in southwestern France, a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a celebration gathering. Local prosecutors confirmed the death occurred shortly after the match but could not confirm if it was directly related to the PSG celebrations. The suspect is still at large.
Football fans celebrate PSG's victory on the Champs-Elysees avenue after the Champions League final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan. (AP)
Elsewhere, in the city of Grenoble, a car ploughed into fans celebrating PSG's win, injuring four people—two seriously. Police reported that all victims belonged to the same family. The driver later surrendered and was arrested. Investigators said the incident was not intentional, and the driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs.
Despite the chaos, the majority of fans celebrated peacefully. However, authorities in Paris had to deploy water cannons to prevent crowds from reaching the Arc de Triomphe, as clashes intensified late into the night. "Troublemakers on the Champs-Elysées were looking to create incidents," police said in a statement.
Sunday was set to bring further celebrations, with a victory parade for the team on the Champs-Elysées, expected to attract tens of thousands of fans. French President Emmanuel Macron praised PSG's “day of glory” on social media and will host the team at the Élysée Palace. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo called the win “historic”.
The landmark victory marks PSG’s first-ever Champions League title, a moment fans like 20-year-old Clement described as “so deserved” and symbolic of a team reborn: “They’re 11 guys who play for each other.”
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less