AROUND 15,000 PSG fans had thronged the esplanade at Trocadero by the Eiffel Tower on Monday in Paris to mark the club’s first league title in 19 years – two years after a buyout by Qatar Sports Investments.
But the occasion descended into violence with the throwing of smoke bombs, damage to bars and restaurants, scuffles and stand-offs between an 800-strong police presence and hardline PSG supporters known as ‘ultras’.
In all 30 people including three security officers suffered injuries and 21 arrests were made following the disturbances, announced Paris police commissioner Bernard Boucault.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
Celebration turns sour.
A police source reported: “There were numerous smoke bombs and objects thrown at the players’ podium, and a strong surge by the crowd when the players got onto the podium.
“Police officers reinforced security around the podium which resulted in objects being thrown at the security forces.”
“It was the fault of the ultras, we couldn’t celebrate because of them,” one fan told AFP.Another, Alexandre, said: “The festival was ruined.”
The main rightwing opposition UMP party accused Interior Minister Manuel Valls of “amateurism” and “inertia” in face of the violence, with local UMP mayor Claude Goasguen calling for him to resign.
“The security of the people, the supporters, the players and the journalists was not assured,” Goasguen complained in a statement.
Boucault said that given the disturbances, PSG would never be granted “a public celebratory parade again”.
