French police said Wednesday they had arrested 36 people including three minors 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.
Arrests were made,
police said, for various acts, including the throwing of projectiles, acts of
violence against authorities, contempt and theft.
Justice Minister
Eric Dupond-Moretti warned of action against individuals he said were in fact
dishonouring PSG.
“Some people are
wearing a jersey that last night made an entire city and even a country proud.
They dishonor it,” he said.
“Justice will be
vigilant and the Paris prosecutor’s office will bring to court the perpetrators
of these acts on the Champs-Elysees.”
PSG qualified for
their first Champions League final, in Lisbon on Sunday against the winner of
Bayern Munich v Lyon, after beating Leipzig 3-0.
