Supporters of the Africa Cup of Nations not welcome in Paris

The decision was made through a decree published on December 23rd: spontaneous celebrations are prohibited in a large perimeter ranging from the Dauphine and Maillot gates to the Tuileries Garden, including certain quays of the Seine. This text replaces an initial version that initially targeted the entire tournament, with the ban now limited to the group stage, which ends on January 1st at 2 a.m.

To justify this lockdown, the prefecture cites a "serious risk" of the use of pyrotechnics and public order disturbances in an area already saturated by tourists and end-of-year festivities. The authorities also rely on the previous disturbances observed during the last major competitions. However, this imposed calm could only be temporary: according to Le Parisien, it is highly likely that new bans will be issued as soon as the knockout stages begin, as the sporting stakes increase.