Piers Morgan has described the violent scenes that unfolded in Paris following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory over Arsenal, admitting he “dreaded to think” what would have happened if the French side had lost.
The broadcaster was in the French capital for Wednesday night’s semi-final and took to social media platform X to share his experience of the unrest.
“Had quieter journeys back to a hotel after a match,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Hordes of rioters, riot cops charging and tear-gassing them, mini fires erupting everywhere.. dread to think what would have happened if they’d lost.”
At least 43 people were arrested after chaos broke out on the streets of Paris following PSG’s 2-1 win on the night, and 3-1 on aggregate, securing their place in the Champions League final.
The violence centred around the Champs-Élysées, where police clashed with hooded youths in running battles.
🇫🇷JUST IN: A burning vehicle explodes after the PSG vs. Arsenal match in Paris.
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) May 7, 2025
Violence has broken out on the Champs-Élysées. Allegedly, the vehicle drove through a crowd of people. pic.twitter.com/K5P8z3kKr2
One of the most serious incidents occurred when a car drove into a group of fans, reportedly injuring at least three people.
“A gang then chased the car, setting it on fire and leaving it to burn after they forced it to stop in a side street,” a source involved in the investigation said.
The driver and passengers of the high-end vehicle fled the scene on foot and have not been identified. Shocking footage shared online showed the car ploughing into fans before being surrounded and later engulfed in flames on Rue Christophe-Colomb.
One person struck by the car was taken to intensive care in a Paris hospital, while two others remained in serious condition.
Around 2,000 Arsenal fans had tickets for the match, with many more watching from bars across the city. None of the violence is believed to have involved Arsenal supporters.
A Paris Police Prefecture spokesman confirmed that at least “43 people were arrested during the PSG victory celebrations”, mainly for public order offences.
He said three people were injured by the car on the Rue Christophe-Colomb, and that a full investigation was under way.
Had quieter journeys back to a hotel after a match… hordes of rioters, riot cops charging and tear-gassing them, mini fires erupting everywhere.. dread to think what would have happened if they’d lost. https://t.co/6XGrCfx9De
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2025
The game itself took place at the Parc des Princes, in the west of Paris, where there were reports of ticketless fans trying to get inside the stadium.
Football related violence has become an increasingly serious problem for the French authorities in recent years, with hooligan firms associating themselves with leading clubs, including PSG.
Police will now be bracing them for the Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan in Munich on May 31.
While many Paris fans will travel, thousands more will remain on the streets of the French capital.
