Enough is enough. In a strongly worded statement released this Sunday morning, the Town Hall of Paris’s 8th arrondissement has called for a “zero gathering” policy on the Champs-Élysées. This decision comes in response to the widespread violence that erupted on Saturday evening after Paris Saint-Germain’s victory in the Champions League final against Arsenal.

“Saturday evening (…) the Champs-Élysées avenue and its surrounding areas ceased to be a place of celebration and transformed into an arena of urban guerrilla warfare,” the Town Hall explained. Consequently, “since it is impossible to celebrate a match without descending into riot, the only sensible response is a new doctrine: zero gathering.” This effectively means no more public assemblies on the world-renowned avenue.

“Public impotence” in the face of violence

Catherine Lécuyer, the LR Mayor of the 8th arrondissement, presented a stark assessment, describing the night’s aftermath as “an indictment of public impotence.” She detailed “multiple acts of violence against law enforcement, mortar fire directed at police officers and residences, burning bins and vehicles, damage to police cars, and numerous lootings.” She further elaborated, “We are no longer managing overflows; we are enduring them. The preventive strategy has reached its limits. The concept of ‘zero damage’ no longer holds against the violence of organized gangs who don’t even bother to disguise themselves as supporters.” The Town Hall expressed grave concerns, fearing “a fatal tragedy,” and concluded, “You don’t canalize chaos; you extirpate it.”

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that the disturbances aligned with “the situation we had anticipated and therefore prepared for.” A total of 283 individuals were apprehended across Paris and its surrounding region. Approximately 8,000 police and gendarme officers had been deployed to maintain order.

Despite these troubling incidents, the planned celebration for the returning players and the Champions League trophy in the capital will proceed. This event is scheduled to take place at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, on the Champ-de-Mars, beginning at 4 PM this Sunday.