Paris (AFP) – Five thousand Paris Saint-Germain fans gathered at the Parc des Princes on Sunday to cheer on their team in the Champions League final taking place in Lisbon without their support.
Supporters lit flares and belted out their favourite chants together behind the goal as they watched PSG take on Bayern Munich on a big screen at the stadium in the French capital.
Social distancing to protect against the coronavirus went out of the window inside and outside the ground as fans hoped to celebrate their team’s first ever triumph in Europe’s top club competition.
“We came for the atmosphere, for it to be a party for everyone and to forget the pandemic,” said Romain Petel, who travelled to Paris with his mother from Normandy to watch the game with his fellow supporters.
“We might as well join in the party. It’s not the same as being at home.”
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said that she hoped for “mature celebrations” should PSG triumph over Bayern, after supporters clashed with police following their 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the semi-finals.
French police said on Wednesday that they arrested 36 people including three minors after running battles with fans in the city, notably on the world-famous Champs-Elysees.
