148 arrested as PSG fans riot after defeat: Paris police - GulfToday

148 arrested as PSG fans riot after defeat: Paris police

psg police 3

French CRS riot police officers stand ready next to firefighters putting out a fire near the Champs-Elysees in Paris. AFP

Police said Monday they arrested 148 people as Paris Saint-Germain fans set cars ablaze, smashed shop windows and clashed with police in the French capital after the team's Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich.


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The violence occurred around the Parc des Princes stadium and on the Champs-Elysees avenue during and after the match on Sunday night, police said on Twitter.

psg police 2 Firefighters extinguish a burning car near the Champs-Elysees in Paris. AFP

Thousands of supporters had gathered at the Parc des Princes to cheer on PSG, lighting flares and chanting as they watched the 1-0 defeat in Lisbon on a big screen.

Earlier, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo had called for "mature celebrations" should PSG beat Bayern, after supporters clashed with police following their 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the semi-finals.

Social distancing measures went out of the window inside and outside the Parc des Princes among fans who had hoped to see their Qatar-owned team's first triumph in Europe's top club competition.

And there were exchanges between fans and police outside the ground throughout the game, with youngsters armed with fireworks targeted with tear gas by police.

psg police 1 French anti-riot policemen walk in tear gas smokes as they escort Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) supporters. AFP

Dustbins and a vehicle were set on fire, and police vans were pelted with bottles. Police cleared away 100 people who gathered at the Porte de Saint-Cloud area of the French capital, near the Parc des Princes stadium.

"I'm gutted! They wasted too many chances and unfortunately in the final that just doesn't fly," said Nicolas Mounier as he left the stadium peacefully.

"We are disappointed but we weren't dreadful," another PSG fan, Anne Vaneson said.

"In the first half, we were on a level playing field but we paid for a dip in performance in the first 20 minutes of the second half."

Agence France-Presse

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