Fresh off its historic Champions League triumph, Paris Saint-Germain paraded by means of the guts of Paris on Sunday in an open-top bus, basking within the adoration of hundreds of followers – a euphoric celebration marred by tragedy, with two deaths and about 200 accidents reported from the chaotic in a single day revelry.
Waving blue and purple, jubilant supporters lined the Champs-Elysees because the workforce rolled in from Munich, the place it crushed Inter Milan 5-0 to seize European membership soccer’s most coveted prize. The ambiance was electrical however contained, with followers penned behind barricades and riot police standing watch.
Cheers erupted because the bus got here into view. Captain Marquinhos hoisted the gleaming trophy aloft earlier than passing it alongside the road of elated gamers. Coach Luis Enrique led supporters in membership chants, whereas star ahead Ousmane Dembele charmed the gang with air-blown kisses.
The celebration continued on the Elysee Palace, the place President Emmanuel Macron and first woman Brigitte Macron welcomed the squad, decked out in PSG uniforms and tracksuits, for a second of nationwide delight that was each triumphant and sobering.
After leaving the Elysee, the gamers arrived at their house stadium, the Parc des Princes, for a live performance, gentle present and presentation of the trophy. Fans contained in the 49,000-seat stadium sang “Champions d’Europe” (“Champions of Europe”) as they waited for the ceremony to start.
Former membership stalwarts like winger Jerome Rothen and proper again Bernard Mendy warmed up the gang.
Rothen joked about PSG changing into the primary French aspect to win two European trophies – a wry dig at bitter rival Marseille, which till Saturday evening was the one French membership to win the Champions League and reminded PSG yearly with the slogan “A jamais les premiers” (“Forever the first”).
Only PSG and Marseille, which was additionally runner-up in 1991, have received the Champions League. Monaco in 2004 and PSG in 2020 reached the ultimate. PSG received the now-defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996 – therefore Rothen’s reference.
The in a single day fatalities marred an evening of exuberance after PSG clinched its first – and long-awaited – Champions League title. The Eiffel Tower glowed in workforce colours and followers partied by means of the evening.
PSG denounced the violence. “These isolated acts are contrary to the club’s values and don’t at all represent the immense majority of our fans,” PSG stated in a press release.
Celebrations have been largely peaceable however turned violent in some areas.
A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to loss of life within the western metropolis of Dax throughout a PSG avenue get together after Saturday evening’s ultimate in Munich, the nationwide police service stated. The regional prosecutor stated the killing didn’t look like linked to the match. In Paris, a person in his 20s was killed when his scooter was hit by a automotive throughout PSG celebrations, and the driving force was detained, Paris police stated. The circumstances of each incidents are beneath investigation.
A police officer was unintentionally struck by fireworks at a PSG gathering in Coutances in northwest France and was positioned in a synthetic coma as a result of critical eye accidents, the nationwide police stated. A complete of 201 folks have been injured across the capital, 4 of them significantly, in response to Paris police chief Laurent Nunez.
In the Alpine metropolis of Grenoble, a driver bumped into pedestrians gathered for a PSG celebration, injuring three or 4 folks, the regional prosecutor’s workplace stated. The driver was detained. The metropolis additionally noticed followers throwing projectiles at firefighters and police utilizing dispersal grenades.
Up to 110,000 folks have been allowed alongside the enduring, tree-lined Champs-Elysees for the parade.
A large swath of central Paris was closed to site visitors for the distinctive day. The safety measures additionally impacted the French Open unfolding close by.
Buses hoping to choose up followers at Roland Garros have been held up in site visitors whereas others rode previous on scooters, honking horns and waving flags.
Thousands of police have been deployed to take care of order utilizing comparable techniques to these on Saturday evening, Nunez stated. AP reporters noticed tear gasoline used close to the stadium and water cannons deployed close to the Arc de Triomphe to disperse unruly crowds.
In addition to accidents and arrests, Nunez stated 4 shops have been looted in a single day and firefighters extinguished rubbish can fires and dealt with different emergencies.
By 2 a.m. Sunday, 294 arrests had been made, together with 30 individuals who broke right into a shoe retailer on the Champs-Elysees. Two vehicles have been set on fireplace close to Parc des Princes.
At the Place de la Bastille, joyous followers climbed onto the bottom of the well-known column, singing, dancing and setting off flares, whereas crowds beneath joined in.
Nunez blamed the scattered unrest on “thousands of people who came to commit acts of violence” slightly than to have a good time. He famous comparable troubles throughout prior celebrations within the capital, akin to after France’s World Cup victory in 2018.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau lamented the violence, saying: “I am angry today, like many French people. … When parents panic because their child has gone out to celebrate a major sports victory, that’s unbearable.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com