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French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence after PSG’s UEFA Champions League win, which led to two deaths and 600 arrests.
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks as PSG captain Marquinhos, right, cries, and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi listens after the team won the Champions League final (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the “unacceptable” violence that erupted during celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final victory, as he welcomed the victorious team to the Élysée Palace on Sunday.
“Nothing can justify the violent clashes that occurred in the last few hours,” Macron stated.
“We will pursue, we will punish, we will be relentless,” he added before congratulating the players on their win.
Two people died, and police arrested nearly 600 individuals across France overnight as fans celebrated PSG’s 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in Munich on Saturday.
ALSO READ | Two Dead, Hundreds Arrested As France Burns After PSG’s Champions League Triumph
“The violent clashes are unacceptable and have resulted in a heavy toll: two people are dead, around 30 police officers and several firefighters were injured,” Macron said.
“My thoughts are also with the police officer in Coutances who is currently in a coma,” he added, referring to the town in western France where a police officer was struck in the eye by a firework.
ALSO READ | Police Officer In Induced Coma After Fireworks Injury During PSG Celebrations
Macron hosted PSG coach Luis Enrique and his team after their victory parade on the Champs-Élysées avenue, thanking the players for their swift condemnation of the violence.
“These isolated acts are contrary to the club’s values and do not represent the vast majority of our supporters, whose exemplary behaviour throughout the season deserves praise,” the club said on Sunday.
Macron also congratulated the team for their “sublime” victory over Inter Milan.
“You are the champions and you have put Paris at the top of Europe,” he said.
“There were 11 of you on the field, but there was clearly a twelfth man – the entire French public, regardless of traditional allegiances,” Macron said, referring to his own loyalty to PSG’s rival club, Olympique de Marseille.
It was the first time PSG had won the biggest prize in European club football.
ALSO READ | Champions D’Europe: UCL Winners PSG Return To Paris As Heroes
Many of the team’s stars, comprising one of the youngest sides in the competition, are drawn from the vast football talent pool in the Paris suburbs after PSG’s Qatari owners shifted their focus away from signing star players like Neymar and Lionel Messi.
A total of 11.5 million people across France tuned in to watch the UEFA Champions Leage final.
(With inputs from AFP)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov… Read More
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