After Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) historic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich on Saturday, the streets of the French capital became the scene of violence. According to the French Interior Ministry, 559 people were arrested, and two were killed. However, the riots were not limited to football fans – the chaos was further inflamed by other participants who seized the opportunity to create disorder.
The final match played on Saturday, the 31st of May, in Munich, saw PSG win a convincing 5-0 victory, putting the club on the European club throne for the first time in its history. The joy of the players was infectious, but after the match, it turned into violent scenes on the streets of Paris. Fans gathered mainly on the Champs-Élysées and near the Parc des Princes stadium to watch the triumph on big screens, while some took advantage of the situation for propaganda and unnecessary violence.
“PSG fans unfurled a banner reading ‘Stop the genocide in Gaza’ at the Champions League final in Munich tonight. Earlier, at the match in Paris, they unfurled a huge banner reading ‘Free Palestine’. Now, migrants are burning and looting their city,” wrote a user on the social network X.
The celebrations quickly took a different turn when some participants clashed with the police. Paris police reported the use of water cannons and the detention of nearly 300 individuals, mostly for possession of pyrotechnics and causing a disturbance. The videos show crowds blocking the streets, setting fire to cars and clashing with police. “PARIS: Islamist rioters climbed the statue of Joan of Arc and waved the Palestinian flag. They are using their team’s victory as an excuse to cause chaos. If they had lost, they would have done the same! From Joan of Arc to the Islamist takeover, what a tragic fall for France,” wrote one user on the social network X, commenting on a video of the aforementioned chaos.
The video, which shows a group of people running through the streets causing confusion, suggests a wider participation than the usual supporters. “In just one evening, we could see all the degeneration of France, the animals that are on our streets. What you see is the result of the ‘tolerance’ of the left and the bogus La France Insoumise (LFI) – if in 2027, you are still blocking the Rassemblement National (RN), you are fools. #Chomps-Élysées #Paris,” wrote another.
Judging by the videos and the violent riots, Paris became a real war zone, which, of course, resulted in casualties. “What is going on in Paris tonight????? Who are these girl victims????” wrote one user alongside a video of visibly injured girls.
British activist Tommy Robinson also reacted to what happened, writing: “The scenes in Paris are not a football riot. These are migrant riots. Paris cannot organise any event without riots because imported people use any excuse to smash and loot. Mass deportations are needed.”
While PSG’s victory is a historic moment for the club and its supporters, the wild celebrations in Paris also showed a darker side. It was not just about fan passions, but about a wider chaos involving different groups with different objectives. The Paris police are still investigating the events as the city prepares for the official parade of winners. This will take place on Sunday, under increased security measures.
The office of French President Emmanuel Macron announced after the match that the President of France would host the Champions League winners on Sunday to congratulate them. Although the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, also described the Champions League final as “historic”, no one in power is addressing the more than obvious problem – the fact that France is becoming an “Islamist country”.
A. H.
