Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire has decided against setting up a fan zone for the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal on May 30, bowing to security concerns raised by authorities. Instead, the match will be broadcast inside Parc des Princes.

Following a Monday meeting with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, Mayor Grégoire abandoned his plan to create a free public viewing area. Earlier, he acknowledged the Paris prefecture of police‘s reservations, calling the timing “not ideal” amid a packed event calendar that includes major concerts by Aya Nakamura at Stade de France and Damso at La Défense Arena.

The police source emphasized the strain on public order forces, already stretched thin by overlapping events. While the fan zone won’t materialize, a large-screen broadcast at Parc des Princes remains in the works, requiring significant law enforcement deployment.

127 arrests after PSG’s Champions League semifinal victory

The decision comes amid concerns over crowd management, particularly after 127 arrests in the Paris metropolitan area following the semifinal win over Bayern Munich. Eleven people were injured, including one critically, while 23 police officers sustained minor injuries. Last year’s post-final celebrations saw over 500 arrests after disturbances erupted in Paris and other regions.

Interior Minister Nuñez had previously raised alarms about Mayor Grégoire’s unilateral announcement of the fan zone on May 6, after PSG’s final qualification. Opposition councilor Eric Schahl criticized the mayor for failing to consult district leaders before making the announcement.

Despite this setback, Mayor Grégoire reaffirmed his commitment to hosting future free public events in Paris, emphasizing their importance for community engagement.