Paris Saint-Germain secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League final with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday night. But while the team celebrated their ticket to Budapest's May 30 final, the streets of Paris told a different story—one of chaos and clashes that left 127 people arrested and dozens injured.
Fans poured into the streets across the French capital to celebrate PSG's semifinal victory, but what should have been a night of pure joy quickly turned sour. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that 107 of those arrests took place in Paris proper, with the rest in the surrounding region. Eleven people were hurt, one seriously, and 23 police officers sustained minor injuries during the disturbances.
Most of the celebrations were peaceful, with crowds gathering in iconic spots across Paris after the final whistle in Munich. Even newly elected Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire joined the festivities, watching the match alongside hundreds of fans—including many children—at his headquarters in the Hôtel de Ville.
But trouble flared elsewhere. In central Paris, dozens of trash bins and several cars were set ablaze, while police fired tear gas to disperse crowds approaching the Parc des Princes, PSG's home stadium. "I condemn these excesses, which are sadly becoming a common occurrence on nights when Paris Saint-Germain win," Nuñez told Europe 1 radio, his frustration palpable.
The violence, while serious, was less severe than last season's Champions League final celebrations, when hundreds were arrested and two people lost their lives in related incidents across France. This time, a mortar firework left one person with serious injuries, and authorities confirmed that hundreds of individuals had attempted to target police and loot local businesses. Police successfully prevented an attempt to block the city's ring road, the périphérique.
Among the casualties of the night's chaos was an outdoor exhibition by renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand at the Place de la Concorde. He posted a video showing the aftermath: panels overturned and many pictures vandalized, a stark contrast to the jubilant scenes that should have defined the evening.
More than 5,000 police officers had been deployed across Paris ahead of the match, a sign that authorities were bracing for trouble. As PSG prepares for their final showdown in Budapest, the city is left to reckon with a familiar pattern—triumph on the pitch, turmoil on the streets.