Riots Erupt In Paris As Police Use Tear Gas On Thousands Fans After PSG Lose Champions League Final

Rioting erupted in Paris last night following the city's biggest football club losing the European Cup final.

Tear gas and baton charges were used by French police on thousands of Paris Saint Germain football fans following the 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League game.

As tensions boiled over 15 vehicles were damaged in the rioting, said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. A car that had been parked on the Champs Elysee was pictured on fire after the game.

 
A further 12 shops were damaged and 16 officers were injured, he said. 

French police made 148 arrests last night for damage, violence or throwing projectiles.

Yesterday afternoon fans gathered around the Parc de Princes, PSG's home ground, and on the Champs Elysees to watch the game with scant regard for social distancing, despite Paris being a coronavirus 'red' zone.

Police stopped 404 people who had arrived to watch the game without a face mask, as part of regulations aimed to curb the spread.

'Trouble started before the final whistle,' said a fan at the Parc des Princes. 'Riot police were out in force, and they came under attack when PSG went one-nil down.'

As he spoke, scores of tear gas cannisters were aimed at fans, who fired red flares and fireworks back.

Videos posted on Twitter showed the concourse around the Parc looking and sounding like a war zone.

At one stage a white police vehicle was attacked by a small group of fans – prompting police to move in.

Riot police were also involved in skirmishes with gangs of youths in other parts of the city, including packed cafés, were arrests were made.