A vibrant mix of jubilation and numerous arrests marked Saturday night in Paris, as celebrations for Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph over Arsenal (1-1, 4-3 on penalties) unfolded across the Grands Boulevards and Champs-Élysées.
Chants of « Sa-fo-nov, Sa-fo-nov, Sa-fo-nov » roared with full force the moment Gabriel’s penalty soared over the crossbar in Budapest. Along the Grands Boulevards, smoke flares were already being ignited after Gonçalo Ramos successfully converted the first spot-kick, signaling an almost certain belief in victory among the fans. Inside the packed bars, only a few taller individuals had a clear view of the entire penalty shootout on television screens, with most spectators relying solely on the crowd’s reactions to each attempt.
After a period of intense anxiety, the collective roar following the Brazilian’s missed penalty transformed the streets into a lively, albeit chaotic, scene. Nearby, a line of CRS officers swiftly intervened, deploying tear gas into the celebrating crowd. This action triggered a mass movement, as individuals frantically sought to shield their faces from the stinging fumes.
131 arrests, significantly fewer than in 2025
Still exhilarated but now coughing from the gas, the crowd, traveling on foot or by metro despite widespread station closures, instinctively made its way to the Champs-Élysées. There, all entry points were rigorously screened with full body searches. Despite these measures, numerous fireworks were still brought in and subsequently launched by some individuals. Gatherings of fans, congratulating each other and singing popular chants like « Après tant d’années » or « Et Ousmane Ballon d’Or », were routinely disrupted by charges from CRS units, who dispersed the revelers with tear gas.
This ongoing cat-and-mouse dynamic between law enforcement and the estimated 20,000 celebrants continued throughout the evening. By shortly after 11 PM, the Paris police prefecture reported 131 arrests and one injured officer. This figure represents a significant decrease compared to May 31, 2025, when 559 arrests were made following PSG’s victory over Inter Milan. A CRS officer near an exit on Rue du Colisée remarked, « There are fewer disturbances than last year, yes. But it’s not over yet; we’ll see how things develop. »
Perhaps a sense of familiarity, or the oppressive heat—with temperatures soaring to 37 degrees Celsius in the afternoon—contributed to a more subdued atmosphere. « There was less stress this time. We already experienced this a year ago, » commented Benji, a devoted supporter. From the continuous honking on Rue La Boétie, one of the few arteries near the Champs-Élysées not closed to traffic, to the Grands Boulevards, which became a veritable graveyard of spent fireworks and various firecrackers, the remnants of the ongoing celebration were unmistakable. Nevertheless, the presence of around twenty police vehicles on Boulevard Montmartre, still stationed at 11 PM, underscored the underlying tensions that emerged after the championship was secured.
Leading up to the final whistle, Paris had been in a festive mood. Not since the 2018 World Cup final, won by Les Bleus, had the capital witnessed such a massive football-related gathering. Hours before kickoff, tens of thousands of supporters already thronged the sweltering streets. The ubiquitous Parisian jerseys signaled a truly unique day. From early morning, discussions revolved solely around the match, with locals in Ivry, for instance, debating potential celebrations: « I’m watching the game at home; I can’t be bothered to end up foolishly in police custody! »
The availability of mortars and firecrackers, still openly advertised for sale on various Snapchat accounts as kickoff approached, further suggested that a night of wild celebrations was anticipated. Late in the evening, ascending Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre and rubbing eyes still irritated by lingering tear gas, an elderly gentleman remarked to his neighbor, « I suppose PSG won. » Without a doubt, they had.