Categories: Sports

French Police Arrest 36 After Jubilant PSG Fans Celebrations

French police said Wednesday they had arrested 36 people overnight after clashes, notably on the Champs-Elysees, following Paris Saint-Germain’s victory in the Champions League semi-final.

Police were deployed in big numbers both on the Champs-Elysees, the iconic Parisian avenue that connects the Arc de Triomphe with the Place de la Concorde, and around PSG’s home ground of the Parc des Princes in the west of the city.

Thousands of PSG fans, often very young and for the most part not wearing masks in line with coronavirus health and safety protocols, paraded down the Champs-Elysees in cars, and on mopeds and scooters, in a cacophony of horn-blowing and chanting.

Paris Saint-Germain supporters wave the club flags as they celebrate on the Champs Elysee Avenue after their team’s 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in Paris on August 18, 2020, following the UEFA Champions League semi-final football match between Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain, played in Lisbon. AFP

Arrests were made, police said, for various acts, including the throwing of projectiles, acts of violence against authorities, contempt and theft.

PSG qualified for their first Champions League final, in Lisbon on Saturday against the winner of Bayern Munich v Lyon, after beating Leipzig 3-0.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Spanish defender Juan Bernat scores his team’s third goal past Leipzig’s Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi during the UEFA Champions League semi-final football match between Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on August 18, 2020. Manu Fernandez / POOL / AFP

AFP