Clashes Erupt on Champs-Élysées as World Cup Celebrations Turn Violent in Paris

Shortly after the respective victories of the two teams, some 20,000 people had gathered on the Champs-Élysées to celebrate their qualification for the semi-finals of the competition, the prefecture said. Around 11 p.m., incidents broke out between supporters. "Projectiles were thrown at the security forces," the same source points out, specifying that several material damages were recorded.

According to the prefecture, "three two-wheeled vehicles were set on fire, the facade of a cafe was damaged, the window of a starred bank and an entrance hall suffered damage." No "significant incident was reported," it is added. 19 police officers were slightly injured and at least 170 people were arrested.

Speaking on Cnews, the LR mayor of the 8th arrondissement of Paris, Jeanne d’Hauteserre, deplored the behavior of these supporters. "When we celebrate a victory, we don’t come with mortars on the Champs-Élysées, or with bars. We must not accept that these people come to break things," she regretted.