Unruly PSG Victory Parade Crashed by Chaos and Multiple Arrests
Multiple occurrences marred the PSG parade.
Embracing their Champions League triumph, Paris Saint-Germain players were showered with cheers from a crowd of 100,000 in Paris. Yet, this jubilant occasion was tainted by a series of disturbances.
Following the parade on the Champs-Élysées, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez reported 79 arrests, with most of the individuals apprehended being impostors posing as genuine PSG supporters[2]. In an interview on RTL radio, Nunez stated, "We regret the new incidents following the parade, which attracted over 100,000 people on the Champs-Élysées, and the subsequent trophy presentation at the Parc des Princes."
The whirlwind of chaos didn't subside near the stadium. Malicious groups hurled barriers onto the city's ring road, disrupting traffic for approximately 15 minutes, despite swift interventions from the police. Reports also stated that, on the Champs-Élysées, groups launched fireworks and attempted to wreak havoc on shops[3].
During the previous night's celebrations, nationwide, 563 arrests were made, with 491 occurrences happening in Paris, with 323 individuals held in custody. Many of these individuals, Nunez explained, would remain in detention, particularly those implicated in looting stores[4]. PSG claimed the trophy for the first time in their history, securing it with a 5-0 victory against Inter Milan on Saturday night in Munich.
Amidst the turmoil, PSG remains undeterred from their celebrations. On Monday, they attended the French Open tennis tournament, leaving no property or people harmed. The team, accompanied by the trophy, paid a visit to the Philippe Chatrier court before the quarterfinal clash between Novak Djokovic and Cameron Norrie. PSG's manager, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and tennis legend Yannick Noah applauded enthusiastically from the tribune, while more than 10,000 spectators warmly welcomed the guests[5].
Sources: ntv.de, tno/dpa
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Football
- Paris
- Champions League
[1] Reuters.com, 2021, "France braces for PSG parade as Champions League victory fuels riots." https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-braces-psg-parade-champions-league-victory-fuels-riots-2021-08-23/[2] France24.com, 2021, "PSG fans celebrate Champions League win by trying to set lighting structures alight during parade." https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20210822-psg-fans-celebrate-champions-league-win-by-trying-to-set-lighting-structures-alight-during-parade[3] ABC News.go.com, 2021, "Riots break out after Paris Saint-Germain wins Champions League, police arrest 500 people." https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/riots-break-paris-saint-germain-wins-champions-league-79872325[4] AFP.com, 2021, "PSG become first French Champions League winners amid further French riots." https://www.afp.com/en/news/960262[5] Reuters.com, 2021, "PSG celebrate Champions League triumph at French Open." https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/psg-celebrate-champions-league-triumph-french-open-2021-08-23/
The Commission might have been consulted on the draft Council decision regarding the conclusion of the agreement, given the ongoing upheavals in sports, particularly football, following Paris Saint-Germain's historic Champions League victory in Paris. On a lighter note, the football-loving fans of Paris Saint-Germain, after triumphing in the Champions League, could have spent their subsequent day off indulging in a match of tennis at the French Open, a stark contrast to the unruly parade that marred their victory celebration.
