France celebrates PSG Champions League triumph

Paris erupted in a mix of celebration and chaos as the city welcomed Paris Saint-Germain's second straight Champions League title. Tens of thousands of fans lined the streets Sunday, waving flags and cheering as the team paraded from the airport to the Champ-de-Mars, basking in the glory of their 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in Budapest.

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PSG were an “immense pride” for France but said the country was “fed up” with the violence.

The triumphant return, which included a reception with President Emmanuel Macron, was a stark contrast to the previous night's events. Hundreds of people were arrested across France, and dozens of police officers and civilians were injured amidst widespread unrest. Cars were set ablaze, shops were looted, and one man died in a motorbike accident during the celebrations. Authorities reported 780 arrests nationwide, a significant increase from the previous year's celebrations.

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We will be ruthless with those who have been caught.

President Macron, while calling the team an "immense pride" for France, strongly condemned the violence, labeling it "unspeakable." He vowed a ruthless response to those responsible for the disturbances. However, Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire attempted to downplay the severity, suggesting such incidents were not new and blaming "media coverage" and social media for amplifying the troublemakers' actions.

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In the vast majority of cases, people celebrated with family and friends. And it was an extraordinary celebration.

Political figures across the spectrum reacted to the unrest. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticized the situation, stating, "only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots." The town hall for the Champs-Élysées district described the area as an "arena of urban guerrilla warfare" rather than a place of celebration. The differing perspectives highlight the tension between celebrating sporting success and addressing the underlying social issues that manifest during large public gatherings.

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And incidents on the fringes of major events have been going on for centuries.