As Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans erupted in celebration after their team’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final, tragedy struck across France. According to an AFP report citing the French interior ministry, two people lost their lives and 559 arrests were made during the post-match celebrations on Sunday, June 1.
One of the victims was a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Dax, a southwestern town, amid jubilant street celebrations. In another incident, a man riding a scooter died after being hit by a car in the southwest area of Paris.
Violence Erupts on Champs Elysees
The Champs Elysees, often the center of major French celebrations, descended into chaos. Riot police clashed with unruly crowds as bus shelters were smashed and projectiles were hurled. In response, authorities deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the throng of thousands who had gathered on the iconic boulevard. Of the total arrests, a staggering 491 took place in Paris alone.
A Historic Night for PSG
Despite the off-field turmoil, it was a historic night for Luis Enrique’s PSG, who lifted the UCL trophy for the first time in the club’s history, becoming the first French team to win the title since Marseille in 1993.
Their journey to the final was nothing short of remarkable, overcoming European heavyweights like Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal. In the final, PSG dominated from the opening whistle.
- 12th minute: Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring.
- 20th minute: Desire Doue doubled the lead.
- 63rd minute: Doue netted again after a no-look flick from Ousmane Dembele found Vitinha, who assisted the goal.
- 73rd minute: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added the fourth.
- 86th minute: Senny Mayulu sealed the deal with the fifth goal.
Inter Milan, who had made a strong run to the final by defeating Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate, were left stunned by the pace, precision, and dominance of the French champions.
While the night marked a new chapter in PSG football legacy, the celebrations were overshadowed by violence, loss, and unrest—highlighting once again the fine line between jubilation and chaos in high-stakes football culture.
