France descended into chaos following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Champions League victory over Inter Milan, as violence erupted across the country, leaving two dead and at least 192 injured. The deadly outburst included a 17-year-old boy fatally stabbed in Dax and a 20-year-old mowed down by a car in Paris. In Grenoble, a car plowed into a crowd, injuring several more.
French authorities reported 559 arrests overnight, shattering previous records for post-sporting event violence. Paris alone accounted for 491 arrests, far surpassing the 227 arrested after the 2022 World Cup final.
Riots swept through major cities, including Paris, Annemasse, Nantes, and Pau, as mobs looted stores, set 700 fires, and torched 264 cars. One Paris witness described seeing “rioters on top of a statue of Joan of Arc,” a desecration that sparked outrage from French leaders.
National Rally President Jordan Bardella condemned the mayhem, calling it “a playground for thugs” and warning that France’s global image is “tarnished.” He accused Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau of underestimating the threat, while Retailleau slammed the “barbarians” responsible for the violence.
Meanwhile, far-left politicians downplayed the destruction. MP Antoine Léaument, who joined the crowds, blamed police for turning a “party into a hail of tear gas.” LFI parliamentarian Eric Coquerel even accused Retailleau of “racist undertones” for calling the rioters “barbarians.”
The shocking scenes highlight France’s growing struggle with lawlessness and political division, as mobs continue to exploit national celebrations to unleash violence on the streets.
