More than 280 people were arrested in Paris on Saturday night after celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph descended into violence across parts of the French capital.
The French Interior Ministry reported that a total of 416 people were detained across the country, with 283 arrests taking place in Paris alone, according to multiple local publications.
Authorities have not yet disclosed how many of those detained will remain in custody.
French authorities had deployed approximately 22,000 police officers nationwide for the highly anticipated final, including 8,000 stationed in Paris.
The extensive security operation was implemented to prevent a repeat of the disturbances that accompanied the tournament in previous years.
Public transport services were also heavily affected, with several metro stations closed, tram services suspended, and bus routes disrupted.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that seven police officers sustained injuries during the unrest.
"The incidents are absolutely unacceptable," Mr Nunez said, noting that officials also reported damage to six vehicles and two commercial establishments.
As supporters marked PSG's dramatic penalty shootout victory in Budapest, around 20,000 fans gathered along the famous Champs-Élysées avenue. Some supporters briefly occupied sections of the city’s ring road, the Peripherique, disrupting traffic while igniting flares.
Businesses along the Champs-Élysées had taken precautionary measures ahead of the match by boarding up windows to protect against potential vandalism.
Police seized around two dozen flares and approximately 100 fireworks, while a bus shelter was also destroyed during the chaos.
The evening was particularly busy in Paris, with several major events taking place simultaneously, including performances by singer Aya Nakamura and rapper Damso, alongside ongoing French Open tennis matches.
Near PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, where tens of thousands of supporters watched the match on giant screens, authorities reported damage to a bakery and a restaurant.
Thousands of individuals remained outside the venue, with some throwing projectiles at police officers.
Officials stated that around 150 people attempted to gain access through one of the stadium gates but were prevented by police. Some individuals also tried to construct a barricade using rental bicycles before officers quickly dismantled it.
The unrest drew criticism from far-right politician Marine Le Pen, who posted on X that "only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots." However, Mr Nunez defended the police response, maintaining that authorities had established a very robust and solid system to curb the violence.