Some 800 people arrested, one dead, after riotous Paris celebrations post-PSG's soccer trophy win
Almost 800 people were arrested, and one person died, during the celebrations in Paris over PSG’s crowning as UEFA Champions League winners on Saturday night, with French authorities promising a more controlled environment during the Sunday team parade.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, a 24-year-old man died during a motorcycle accident on the Boulevard Périphérique, a 35-kilometer urban motorway encircling the city limits, after clashing against concrete barriers placed by the Paris city services to close access to Porte Maillot during the celebrations.
The French Interior Ministry also confirmed that 780 people were arrested during the celebrations for the title, mainly for offenses against law enforcement, property damage, illegal possession of weapons, and gatherings that continued after police orders to disperse.
Catherine Lécuyer, the mayor of Paris’ 8th arrondissement, said on Saturday that “high-risk sporting gatherings” would be subject to a ban on gatherings on the Champs-Elysées Avenue, which was one of the avenues damaged by the celebrations.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that Lécuyer has a “false good idea,” which would mean celebrations would be dispersed throughout the city rather than concentrated at one main focal point, such as the Champs-Élysées.
The Interior Ministry also informed that more than 200 people were injured during the celebrations, with opposition leaders reviving France’s heated debate about street violence.
Sunday celebrations to take place in orderly manner
Parisian authorities announced that the Sunday celebrations, which are expected to attract up to 90.000 people, would be held in an orderly manner in the Champ-de-Mars park.
The PSG players will be present at the event, with the crowd receiving the champions of Europe’s biggest soccer competition.
PSG players are expected to walk a 450-meter course through the crowd before presenting the trophy they won last night to their fans.
Later in the evening, French President Emmanuel Macron will receive the European champions in the Presidential Palace, according to the agenda shared by authorities.
PSG repeats Champions League title after beating Arsenal on penalties
PSG retained their Champions League title with a penalty shoot-out victory over Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in a cagey final in the Puskas Arena on Saturday.
Arsenal’s Gabriel blazed his penalty over the crossbar to give PSG a 4-3 victory on spot kicks.
The French champions made the worst possible start after Kai Havertz fired Arsenal into the lead in the sixth minute, lashing a rising shot past PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
It looked like PSG would find no way through the meanest defense in Europe, but Ousmane Dembele leveled from the penalty spot in the 65th minute after a foul by Cristhian Mosquera on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
A scrappy period of extra time could not separate the sides, but PSG held their nerve in the shootout to become the second club in the Champions League era to win the trophy in successive seasons.
