Chaos has erupted in Paris as riot police clash with PSG fans following the French side’s Champions League final victory over Arsenal.
Riots broke out in Paris just minutes into the final as thousands of police officers brace for jubilant fans to celebrate late into the night.
Arsenal were hoping to secure their second trophy of the season, after winning the Premier League last week, but it was PSG who were crowned European champions for the second year in a row.
Riot police were seen clashing with PSG fans in ugly scenes after Arsenal star Kai Havertz thundered a strike into the roof of the net to put the Gunners 1-0 up inside six minutes.
But scenes of violence turned into jubilation in the second half after PSG star Ousmane Dembele equalised with a cooly taken penalty in the 66th minute.
Both sides were locked in a tesne extra time battle to take home the Champions League title, but it was PSG who held their nerve to retain the coveted trophy.
Around 5,000 police and gendarmes have been deployed in Paris to police crowds who were watching the final.
By the end of the game, 39 arrests had been made, with some 1600 people stopped and searched by the police.
French police used tear gas and baton charges against crowds in Paris who had gathered to watch the game on TV screens outside bars and cafés in sweltering heat on Saturday afternoon.
PSG fans caught up in tear gas as they clash with police
Chaotic scenes in Paris as tear gas is fired and French police detain a man
In dramatic scenes in the French capital, PSG supporters have been arrested by police in full riot gear
A PSG fan sets off a flare outside PSG’s home ground of Parc des Princes
Riot Police grab hold of a PSG fan in Paris
A large crowd of PSG fans walking in the street in Paris
Jubilant Arsenal fans react to the earlier goal from Havertz outside the Emirates
Weapons and fireworks were among the items confiscated by officers.
‘The trouble started as soon as Arsenal went one-nil up,’ said an onlooker. ‘Chairs and bottles were thrown at the police, who then moved in to make arrests.’
Some Paris St Germain fans managed to climb up scaffolding on a building close to the Rue de Rivoli – one of the main shopping streets in the French capital.
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Meanwhile, outside the Emirates, hundreds of Arsenal fans reacted jubilantly to Havertz’s goal by setting off red flares.
But there were far more somber scenes outside the homeground after the game as many emotional supporters shed a tear.
In Paris, there were further skirmishes throughout the first half of the game, as some cafés turned off their televisions.
Hundreds of tourists visiting nearby monuments such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre museum also found themselves caught up in the trouble.
Firefighters in Paris were seen working to put out flares set off by PSG fans.
Le Parisien reported that crowds surged after Ousmane Dembele scored his equalizer leading to another show of force from the French police.
French police clash with PSG supporters on the Champs Elysees
Riots broke out in the French capital just minutes after Arsenal took the lead against PSG in the Champions League
Riot police in Paris arresting a topless PSG fan
Firefighters in Paris were seen working to put out flares set off by PSG fans
PSG supporters run from the teargas fired by French police during the UEFA Champions League final
Riot police with shields close to Parc des Princes in Paris
Somber scenes outside the Emirates following Arsenal’s defeat in the Champions League final
Meanwhile other arrests have been made close to the Champs Élysées after a bus stop was vandalised during a clash between supporters and police.
In Montmartre fans wearing balaclavas and armed with iron bars have also been spotted.
There were some 5,000 police and gendarmes on the streets of Paris on Saturday to police crowds gathering to watch the Budapest final.
Football violence is becoming an increasing problem across France.
Some 43 people were arrested when Paris St Germain beat Arsenal to reach the European Champions League football final a year ago.
Rioting broke out in Paris, and in other parts of France, as hooded youths fought running battles with riot police.
The worst incident took place close to the Champs Elysées when a car ploughed into a group of fans.
While many Paris fans have travelled to Hungary this year, tens of thousands more remained on the streets of the French capital.
As a precaution, France’s most famous avenue has been cordoned at its upper end this year leaving fans who travelled to the centre of Paris to watch the game on their phones.
