Teenager stabbed to death and woman killed in scooter crash as euphoria over club’s first European Cup descends into mayhem on the streets
Paris Saint-Germain‘s historic first Champions League triumph was marred by tragedy last night as two people died and 559 were arrested during wild celebrations that descended into urban warfare across France.
A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in the southwestern town of Dax while celebrating the Parisians’ stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich, while a 20-year-old woman riding a scooter was killed after being struck by a speeding car in Paris’s 15th arrondissement.
The French Interior Ministry confirmed the shocking toll on Sunday morning, revealing that 491 of the arrests occurred in the capital alone as riot police battled with thugs who hijacked what should have been a night of pure joy for PSG’s long-suffering fans.
NIGHT OF CHAOS
The violence erupted almost immediately after teenager Désiré Doué opened the scoring in PSG’s record-breaking victory at Munich’s Allianz Arena, with the first reports of riots coming from the iconic Champs-Élysées.
Bus shelters were smashed to pieces, projectiles hurled at riot police, and cars torched near the Parc des Princes as 5,400 officers struggled to contain rampaging mobs.
True PSG supporters are enjoying their team’s magnificent match. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke the police,” fumed Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on X, formerly Twitter.
Police deployed water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to storm the Arc de Triomphe, with more than 130 arrests made by midnight – a figure that would quadruple by dawn.
DREAM TURNS TO NIGHTMARE
The tragedy in Dax occurred shortly after the final whistle as the teenager was fatally stabbed during celebrations at a local gathering. Prosecutors confirmed his death happened “during the celebrations” but said they were still investigating whether it was directly related to the football. The attacker remains on the run.
In Paris, the young woman’s death came as she rode her scooter through the city’s southern districts, where celebrations had spilled onto the streets. She was struck by a vehicle “launched at high speed,” according to reports, in what witnesses described as a horrific accident amid the chaos.
The incidents cast a dark shadow over what should have been PSG’s greatest night – their first-ever European Cup triumph after more than a decade of Qatari investment and years of near-misses.
RECORD-BREAKING VICTORY
On the pitch in Munich, Luis Enrique’s young team had delivered a masterclass, with 19-year-old Doué scoring twice and setting up Achraf Hakimi’s opener in the most one-sided Champions League final in history.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and teenage substitute Senny Mayulu completed the rout as PSG finally achieved their Holy Grail – and did so without megastars Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, or Neymar, all of whom had failed to deliver European glory during their time in Paris.
“I don’t have words,” said man-of-the-match Doué. “But what I can say is ‘Thank you Paris,’ we did it.”
VIOLENCE SPREADS ACROSS FRANCE
The mayhem wasn’t confined to the capital. In Grenoble, southeastern France, a car ploughed into celebrating fans, leaving four members of the same family injured – two critically. The driver handed himself in to police, with investigators believing it was not intentional.
In Pau, around 50 thugs vandalized a bus and shops, while similar scenes of disorder were reported in multiple French cities as the celebrations spiraled out of control.
HEROES’ WELCOME PLANNED
Despite the tragic events, PSG’s triumphant squad will parade down the Champs-Élysées today, with President Emmanuel Macron – an ardent Marseille fan – set to receive the players at the Élysée Palace.
“A glorious day for PSG! Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe this evening,” Macron tweeted, before the full extent of the violence became clear.
Inside the Parc des Princes, where 48,000 fans had watched on giant screens, the atmosphere had been electric. “Total euphoria, crazy atmosphere,” said supporter Gilles Gaillot. It made up for the wait and the years of disappointment.
But as the Eiffel Tower lit up in PSG’s red and blue colours and fireworks exploded across the Parisian skyline, the dark side of football was once again rearing its ugly head on the streets below.
‘LET’S NOT TEAR EVERYTHING UP’
Even PSG star Ousmane Dembélé had pleaded for calm during post-match interviews, urging: “Let’s celebrate this but not tear everything up in Paris.”
His words fell on deaf ears as troublemakers – described by police as having “very bad intentions” – turned the City of Light into a battlefield.
Most of those arrested were suspected of illegally possessing fireworks and causing disorder, with shops looted and multiple vehicles set ablaze during running battles that lasted until 3am.
For PSG and their genuine supporters, what should have been the greatest night in the club’s 54-year history will forever be tainted by the senseless violence and tragic loss of life that followed their Munich miracle.
