A night of Champions League celebration turned to chaos and carnage in the French capital on Wednesday, as violence erupted in the wake of Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 aggregate victory over Arsenal.
At least three PSG supporters were injured — one seriously — when a car reportedly drove into a crowd of revellers near the Champs-Elysée. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and fury as the vehicle struck fans who were celebrating the French side’s progression to the final.
According to a police source, “At least three supporters were injured, one seriously, and others were sent flying. A gang then chased the car, setting it on fire and leaving it to burn after they forced it to stop in a side street.”
The dramatic aftermath was caught on camera and circulated widely on social media. Footage showed the high-end vehicle engulfed in flames on Rue Christophe-Colomb, close to one of Paris’s most iconic boulevards. The occupants of the car reportedly fled the scene before it was torched by a group of youths.
The violence didn’t stop there. Clashes broke out between hooded PSG supporters and riot police on the Champs-Elysée and surrounding streets. Tear gas was deployed as authorities struggled to contain the unrest, which raged into the early hours of Thursday.
By 2am, more than 20 arrests had been made. All those detained were believed to be affiliated with the Parisian side, with no involvement from Arsenal fans, who largely kept a low profile in the city. Around 2,000 Arsenal supporters were officially in Paris for the game, with many more watching in bars and cafés.
The French authorities had deployed an extra 2,000 police and gendarmes in anticipation of potential disorder. However, the night’s events highlight the growing issue of football-related violence in France, with so-called “ultras” and hooligan groups increasingly associated with top-tier clubs like PSG.
What should have been a night of triumph for the Ligue 1 giants instead descended into mayhem — a sobering reminder of the darker side of football fandom.