Sports

416 Arrested as PSG Champions League Celebrations Turn Violent in France

Published

2 months ago

May 31, 2026

416 Arrested as PSG Champions League Celebrations Turn Violent in France

Clashes between football fans and security forces across France led to the arrest of 416 people following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) UEFA Champions League triumph over Arsenal.

Thousands of police officers were deployed across Paris and other parts of the country to contain unrest that disrupted road, rail and bus services in the French capital. According to French authorities, 22,000 law enforcement officers were deployed nationwide for the game, including 8,000 in Paris and its suburbs, after unrest marred PSG’s win in the competition last year. Paris tram lines were halted, several metro stations were shut, and bus traffic was stopped in certain areas in a bid to minimise disturbances.

Celebrations erupted after PSG secured victory in a penalty shootout, but parts of the festivities descended into violence, with fireworks and flares set off in several locations. The match, played at Budapest’s Puskas Arena on Saturday, May 30, 2026, ended 1-1 after extra time before PSG triumphed 4-3 in the shootout. Ousmane Dembélé converted a second-half penalty to cancel out Kai Havertz’s early opener for Arsenal, and PSG held their nerve from the spot as Arsenal defender Gabriel blasted his decisive kick high over the crossbar.

Police were forced to deploy tear gas to disperse crowds in parts of central Paris as some supporters clashed with security personnel. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, 416 people were arrested nationwide in the early hours of Sunday, including 280 in Paris. Al Jazeera reported that 283 were apprehended in Paris, with it not immediately clear how many were remanded in custody to face further investigation.

Authorities said seven police officers were injured during the disturbances. France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, described the violence as “absolutely unacceptable” and affirmed that authorities had implemented a “very robust, very solid” security arrangement to prevent a repeat of the more serious disorder that followed PSG’s previous European success.

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Paris’s iconic Champs-Élysées was swarmed by jubilant fans shortly after the final whistle, with about 20,000 people converging on the famous avenue, police said. Videos circulating on social media showed flares being ignited, electric bikes burning on roads, and revellers smashing the glass of at least one shopfront. Many shops had boarded up their windows before the match to avoid a repeat of disturbances last year when youths ransacked shops on the Champs-Élysées and other streets.

Earlier, clashes were reported around PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, where tens of thousands of supporters had gathered to watch the match on giant screens. According to a police spokesperson, an additional 4,000 to 5,000 people loitered outside the stadium, with some throwing projectiles at officers. About 150 people “attempted to enter through one of the gates” at the stadium, but police pushed them back. Some also tried to erect a barricade with rental bikes, which was cleared by police.

French police said six vehicles, two businesses, a bakery, a restaurant, and a bus shelter were damaged during the unrest. A bus shelter near the Champs-Élysées was destroyed. A group of supporters also stormed the Paris ring road, the Boulevard Périphérique, bringing traffic to a halt for a time and setting off flares.

Footage from Paris showed riot instigators lighting fires on roads, setting fire to cars and bicycles. One car was burned on Trocadero Square, located very close to the Eiffel Tower. A group of people even attempted to attack a police station in the posh 8th Arrondissement before law enforcement officers dispersed them. Two people were injured in Paris during the riots, Le Figaro reported—one fell into the Seine River, and the other was wounded with a bladed weapon. Isolated incidents were also observed in other cities across France.

Police confiscated about 24 flares and 100 fireworks during the operations.

Reacting to the unrest, far-right political leader Marine Le Pen criticized the violence, writing on social media that “only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots.” “Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on the evening of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence,” she added. Her party colleague, Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, added: “The operating method is always the same: throwing stones, destroying, looting. Total support for our police, gendarmes and firefighters who are protecting the country against an atmosphere of violence that has become unbearable.”

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the political spectrum, La France Insoumise MP Clémence Guetté asked the Interior Minister “not to spoil the party once again,” adding: “No violent repression: last year’s disaster must not be repeated.”

Meanwhile, PSG players are expected to take part in a victory parade in Paris on Sunday, including celebrations around the Champ-de-Mars near the Eiffel Tower and a reception hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. Between 85,000 and 100,000 people are expected to attend the celebration on the Champ-de-Mars. The team will then head to the Parc des Princes for an evening celebration starting at 7:30 p.m.

The celebrations follow PSG’s historic Champions League triumph over Arsenal, securing the club’s second consecutive European crown and making the French club the first men’s team to retain the trophy since Real Madrid completed their three-year reign from 2016 to 2018. Under manager Luis Enrique, PSG have now won the six shootouts they have contested. Describing the victory, Enrique said: “It’s stronger than last year because we knew before the match just how difficult it would be to play against Arsenal. As a club and a city, it’s incredible to win, and I think we deserved it over the course of the season.”

Last year, PSG’s European championship triumph was marred by clashes that left two people dead, including a 17-year-old boy, and approximately 200 injured, with more than 500 arrests made across France.

Despite the incidents, Nuñez said authorities had put in place a “very robust” security arrangement to prevent a repeat of the more serious disorder that followed PSG’s previous European success. “Our responsibility is to guarantee everyone a festive celebration that is calm and fully secure,” a police spokesperson said. As of the time of this report, authorities continue to review footage and pursue additional suspects involved in the violence.

416 Arrested as PSG Champions League Celebrations Turn Violent in France

Sports

CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

Published

1 day ago

August 3, 2026

Trends Admin

CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

Defender Oluwatosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini will miss Nigeria’s must-win final Group C match against Egypt at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after being suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following disciplinary incidents in the victory over Zambia.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will be without two key players for their crucial final Group C match against Egypt at the ongoing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) handed suspensions to defender Oluwatosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini. The suspensions stem from disciplinary incidents during Nigeria’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday, a result that revived the nine-time African champions’ title defence after a shock opening defeat to Malawi.

Demehin will miss the decisive fixture after receiving a straight red card in the 40th minute of the Zambia match. The centre-back was sent off for bringing down Zambia captain Barbra Banda as the striker raced through on goal during a dangerous counter-attack. The dismissal forced Nigeria to play with 10 players for more than 50 minutes, but the Super Falcons defended bravely to protect their slim lead until the final whistle. Echegini, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, will also be unavailable after receiving a yellow card during the same contest. The booking was her second caution of the tournament, triggering an automatic one-match suspension under CAF’s disciplinary regulations.

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The suspensions come as Nigeria seek victory against Egypt to boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals. The Super Falcons bounced back from their opening 3-2 defeat to Malawi with a determined win over the Copper Queens, but the victory came at a significant cost. Asisat Oshoala scored the only goal in the eighth minute before Nigeria were forced to play with 10 women following Demehin’s dismissal. Despite Zambia’s numerical advantage for most of the contest, the nine-time African champions held on to claim all three points. With two rounds of matches completed, Malawi lead Group C with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia have three points each. Egypt remain without a point, leaving qualification for the knockout stage to be decided in the final round of group fixtures. The final round of Group C matches will be played on Wednesday, with Nigeria facing Egypt knowing victory could secure a place in the knockout stage, while Malawi take on Zambia in another decisive fixture.

Beyond the two confirmed absentees, captain Rasheedat Ajibade faces a different concern. Should she receive a yellow card against Egypt and Nigeria progress to the knockout rounds, she would be suspended for the first knockout-stage match, adding another layer of caution to Nigeria’s approach to the game. The absences of Demehin and Echegini will test the squad’s depth and put pressure on head coach Justine Madugu to reorganise ahead of a match Nigeria must win to advance. Demehin’s absence could prompt Madugu to reshuffle his backline after the defender had played a key role in containing the dangerous Barbra Banda before her dismissal, while Echegini’s suspension reduces Nigeria’s midfield options for the decisive encounter. Despite the double blow, the Super Falcons will be encouraged by the resilience they showed against Zambia, where they protected a one-goal lead for more than 50 minutes with a numerical disadvantage to reignite their title defence. The nine-time African champions have once again demonstrated their ability to grind out results under pressure and will be eager to maintain that momentum against Egypt.

CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

Sports

Nigeria Shines in Commonwealth Games, Tops Africa with 10 Gold Medals

Published

1 day ago

August 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigeria Shines in Commonwealth Games, Tops Africa with 10 Gold Medals

Nigeria delivered one of its finest outings in Commonwealth Games history, finishing as Africa’s undisputed sporting powerhouse after clinching 24 medals to place seventh overall at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Team Nigeria contingent returned home with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals, comfortably emerging as the highest-ranked African nation and securing a place among the world’s top seven teams at the Games.

The final medals standings, released on the official Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games X handle after the close of competition on Sunday, confirmed Nigeria’s remarkable performance behind only Australia, England, Canada, India, Scotland and New Zealand.

Nigeria’s campaign gathered momentum after Esther Nworgu won the country’s first gold medal in the women’s lightweight para-powerlifting event.

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The gold rush continued with Ezekiel Nathaniel’s victory in the men’s 400m hurdles, while Goodness Nwachukwu produced one of the defining moments of the Games by breaking her own world record to win the women’s F42 discus throw.

Idris Riluwan also struck gold in the men’s para-powerlifting event, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi etched his name into history with a landmark triumph in the men’s shot put.

Despite battling injury, world record holder Tobi Amusan showed remarkable resilience to claim a bronze medal in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Australia dominated the Games with 171 medals, including 70 gold, 45 silver and 56 bronze medals.

England finished second with 110 medals (29 gold, 45 silver and 36 bronze), while Canada placed third with 62 medals made up of 19 gold, 20 silver and 23 bronze.

India and hosts Scotland completed the top five with 39 medals each, with India taking fourth place on the strength of a superior silver medal tally.

New Zealand finished sixth with 36 medals (10 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze), narrowly ahead of Nigeria, whose 10 gold medals ensured it finished above every other African country.

Jamaica placed eighth, Wales finished ninth, while Malaysia completed the top 10.

South Africa ended 11th with 28 medals, ahead of Northern Ireland in 12th, while Kenya finished 13th.

Cyprus, Mauritius, Cameroon, Jersey, Samoa, Sri Lanka and Fiji also featured among the leading nations.

Among the remaining African countries, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, Lesotho, Zambia and Gabon all finished on the medals table, underscoring Nigeria’s dominance on the continent.

Nigeria Shines in Commonwealth Games, Tops Africa with 10 Gold Medals

Sports

Super Falcons bounce back as Oshoala sinks Zambia despite red card

Published

2 days ago

August 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Asisat Oshoala

Super Falcons bounce back as Oshoala sinks Zambia despite red card

Nigeria’s Super Falcons returned to winning ways at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia in their second Group C match in Rabat, Morocco.

The defending champions produced a determined response following their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening fixture, with Asisat Oshoala scoring the only goal of the match in the eighth minute.

Nigeria were forced to defend their narrow advantage for more than half of the encounter after defender Oluwatosin Demehin was sent off in the 40th minute following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review of her challenge on Zambia captain Barbra Banda.

Despite playing the entire second half with 10 players, the Super Falcons remained disciplined and organised to secure three important points and revive their campaign. (Confédération Africaine de Football)

The victory was particularly significant for Nigeria, who entered the match under pressure after their unexpected opening defeat to Malawi.

The Super Falcons needed a positive result to strengthen their chances of progressing from Group C and keep their pursuit of a record-extending 11th WAFCON title on course.

Head coach Justine Madugu restored Oshoala to the starting line-up, and the experienced forward made an immediate impact.

Nigeria made a bright start and broke the deadlock in the eighth minute after Oshoala latched onto a long pass from midfield and used her pace to get ahead of the Zambian defence.

The forward broke into the penalty area and attempted to beat Zambia goalkeeper Hazel Nali. Although Nali stopped the initial effort, the rebound ricocheted off Oshoala and rolled into the net to give Nigeria an early lead.

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The goal gave the Super Falcons confidence and provided the ideal response after their difficult start to the tournament.

Nigeria had beaten Zambia 5-0 in the quarter-finals of the previous WAFCON, but the latest meeting proved to be a much more demanding contest.

The Super Falcons’ task became significantly harder shortly before halftime when Demehin was shown a straight red card following a VAR review.

The referee ruled that the defender had committed a serious foul while challenging Zambia’s influential captain, Banda.

The dismissal left Nigeria with 10 players and forced the team to adjust its approach for the remainder of the match.

Zambia increased the pressure after the restart and enjoyed more possession as they searched for an equaliser.

The Copper Queens pushed forward through Banda and fellow attacking players, but Nigeria’s defence remained compact and continued to limit clear scoring opportunities.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie also delivered an important performance, making key saves and helping the Super Falcons preserve their slender lead.

Nnadozie had faced criticism following the defeat to Malawi, but her display against Zambia provided a strong response as Nigeria secured their first win of the competition.

The goalkeeper appeared emotional after the final whistle as the Super Falcons celebrated a result that could prove decisive in their bid to reach the knockout stage.

Madugu also made tactical adjustments during the second half, introducing fresh players, including Chinwendu Ihezuo, to strengthen Nigeria’s defensive shape and provide additional energy.

The Super Falcons showed resilience, tactical discipline and determination as they resisted sustained Zambian pressure until the final whistle.

The result breathed new life into Nigeria’s WAFCON title defence and left Group C open heading into the final round of group-stage matches.

Nigeria are the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, having won a record 10 titles. The Super Falcons are seeking an 11th continental crown at the 2026 tournament, which is being staged in Morocco from July 26 to August 16. (Confédération Africaine de Football)

The 2026 edition is the first WAFCON tournament to feature 16 teams. The competition also carries added importance because the four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the fifth-placed team will advance to an intercontinental play-off. (The NFF)

The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to their final Group C match against Egypt, with another positive result expected to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Nigeria will also have to prepare for the fixture without Demehin, who is expected to serve a suspension following her red card.

For the Super Falcons, the victory over Zambia was more than just three points. It was a statement of resilience after the disappointment against Malawi and a timely boost for their hopes of defending the WAFCON title.