Riot police used tear gas to disperse PSG fans after chaos erupted during the Champions League Final
French police deployed tear gas and clashed with PSG fans as chaos erupted in Paris while the Champions League final against Arsenal took place. Kai Havertz gave the Gunners the lead in Budapest after just five minutes, and within seconds, police clashed with French supporters.
In footage shared on social media, PSG fans were shown running away from police near the Parc des Princes stadium. Reports claim fans aimed fireworks at police officers, who used tear gas in response.
Videos shared online showed carnage across the capital when both Arsenal and PSG scored, with terrifying bangs being heard.
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There were dozens of arrests in central Paris tonight as thousands of football fans went on the rampage following PSG’s victory against Arsenal in the European Champions League final.
The worst trouble was in the Châtelet area of the city, between Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre museum. Tear gas and baton charges were used against crowds who had gathered to watch the game on TV screens outside bars and cafés in sweltering heat on Saturday afternoon.
“The trouble started as soon as Arsenal went one-nil up,” said an onlooker. “Chairs and bottles were thrown at the police, who then moved in to make arrests.”
Some Paris St Germain fans managed to climb up scaffolding on a building close to the Rue de Rivoli – one of the main shopping streets in the French capital – leading to further trouble as officers tried to get them down.
There were further skirmishes later, as some cafés turned off their televisions. By the end of the game, 39 arrests had been made, with some 1600 people stopped and searched by the police.
Weapons and fireworks were among the items confiscated by officers. There were some 5000 police and gendarmes on the streets of Paris to deal with the crowds gathering to watch the Budapest final.
Football violence is becoming an increasing problem across France. Some 43 people were arrested when Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal to reach the European Champions League football final a year ago.
Rioting broke out in Paris, and in other parts of France, as hooded youths fought running battles with riot police. The worst incident took place close to the Champs Elysée when a car ploughed into a group of fans.
While many Paris fans have travelled to Hungary this year, tens of thousands more remained on the streets of the French capital.
PSG won the competition last year but their victory was soured by choas in the streets with two deaths and 500 people arrested in unruly post-match scenes.