Riots erupt in Paris as police use tear gas and baton charges on THOUSANDS fans hurling fireworks and flares in 'coronavirus red zone' after their team PSG lose Champions League final
- Riots erupted in Paris last night as the city's biggest team, Paris Saint Germain, lost the European Cup final
- The French giants were defeated 1-0 by Bayern Munich in the football game held in Lisbon
- As many as 5,000 fans watched the epic match from outside the stadium despite the coronavirus outbreak
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.
Riots erupted in Paris last night after the city's football team Paris Saint Geremain was defeated 1-0 by Bayern Munich
Demonstrators set fire to a car near the Champs Elysee Avenue over the defeat in the Champions Cup final in Lisbon, Portugal
They were seen placing burning objects into the vehicle as it stood parked on a quiet side-street before bursting into flames
French police used batons and tear gas to disperse the protesters around Parc des Princes and Champs Elysee Avenue
French anti-riot police seen preparing to intervene with fans at the Champs Elysees following the French team's defeat
'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 mad
Fans were shown holding up flares as they watched the Champions League final between Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich on the Champs Elysee. The game was played in Portugal behind closed doors
A man hurls a flare near the Parc des Princes stadium after the UEFA champions league match defeat
Fireworks also went off as French anti-riot policemen moved in to escort supporters around the Parc des Princes stadium
Rioters walk through tear gas fired by French police officers after the match between Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich
Three youths pictured marching through Paris, France, during the game. One is seen holding up a flare
A supporter cycles along the Champs Elysee waving a flag for the football team. The match was played behind closed doors
Tear gas and baton charges were used by French police on thousands of Paris Saint Germain football fans
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
Rioting erupted in Paris tonight following the city's biggest football club losing the European Cup final
Fans had wandered onto busy roads waving flags and scarves, and forcing the traffic to stop.
Large crowds also appeared at the PSG home ground – Parc des Princes in the west of the City.
Paris has introduced some of the strictest Covid-19 measures in Europe in recent days, including making masks obligatory in many public spaces.
There has been a spike in cases of the respiratory disease across France, meaning it is now on Britain's quarantine list, meaning anyone coming back to the UK from the country has to self-isolate for 14 days.
Despite this, thousands of PSG fans were on the street, and there were 3000 police and gendarmes trying to keep order.
The game had been played behind closed doors in Lisbon because of the pandemic, meaning millions watching around the world on television.
Paris Saint-Germain fans gathered in their numbers in the French capital as the club chased the first ever Champions League triumph in their history against Bayern Munich in Lisbon.
Hoards of fans have been pictured gathered outside the club's Parc des Princes stadium on Sunday, with flares set off, flags on display and loud drums being played by the French champion's ultras.
Paris Saint-Germain fans have gathered outside the Parc des Princes stadium on Sunday
The French outfit are in their first ever Champions League final and looking for their first win
The French club's ultras gathered in huge numbers outside the ground for the big game
Meanwhile, 5,000 supporters were allowed to watch the game from inside the club's ground
Football is being played behind closed doors due to the increased risk of the spread of the deadly disease, and the images of fans grouped together outside the ground may provide cause for concern, with France having the fourth-highest infection rate across Europe at the time of writing.
5,000 supporters were also allowed to watch the game inside the stadium during the momentous occasion on Sunday, with pictures showing that most fans were close together to watch the game.
Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Co. are looking to guide the French outfit to their first Champions League triumph in the club's history as they take on Bayern Munich.
The Ligue 1 champions looked strong in the mini-tournament in Lisbon, seeing off Atalanta and RB Leipzig to reach the competition's final for the first time.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, have been in tremendous form in Europe this season, and were excellent when they beat Barcelona 8-2 in the quarter finals last week.
Fireworks are let off in the build up to the European final on Sunday evening, played in Lisbon
Two Paris-Saint Germain fans are pictured wearing face masks ahead of the mammoth game
Flags were waved, drums were played and flares were set off by the club's ultras
One fan poses for a selfie with his flag as masses of fans gathered outside the stadium
Fans gather outside the Parc des Princes as anticipation built for the Champions League final
French anti-riot policemen stand on guard near the Arc de Triomphe amid the mass gatherings
France currently has the fourth-highest coronavirus infection rate across Europe
