Whenever a European football championship final involves a French team, the public prepares as if for war. March 6, 2019: Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG) was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League after losing to Manchester United. Paris erupted in violence, with 160 arrests, hundreds of acts of vandalism, and numerous police officers injured. Authorities attributed the unrest to isolated groups driven by frustration over the unexpected defeat. May 30, 2026: PSG defeats Arsenal and wins the Champions League. During the ensuing celebrations, Paris once again went up in flames. There were nearly 900 arrests, about 200 police officers injured, riots in 75 French cities, looting in 15 towns, hundreds of cars burned, barricades erected, and attacks on all kinds of businesses. French authorities have tried to downplay what happened and instead have celebrated the success of the police operation. One wonders what would have to happen for them to consider it a failure.
