Post-match disturbances erupt in Besançon after champions league game

Following a recent Champions League match, a group of approximately fifty individuals initiated a disturbance near the Pont Robert Schwint, effectively blocking traffic. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, officers were met with hostility as the crowd, predominantly minors, began pelting them with projectiles. This confrontation resulted in five police officers sustaining minor injuries. Motorists caught in the gridlock also experienced unsettling moments, witnessing individuals climbing onto their vehicles. As a result, at least one car was confirmed to have been damaged during the incident. The group subsequently moved towards the heart of the city, concentrating around the Place de la Révolution.

Further reports indicate that several city streets, including Grande rue, Battant, and Rue Courbet, were affected by tear gas deployment. Numerous pedestrians and patrons enjoying outdoor terraces were quickly ushered to safety by restaurant staff as the tear gas spread. Some residents also discovered their electric bicycles overturned and vandalized, alongside damage to various pieces of urban furniture.

Besançon mayor condemns post-match violence

The acts of violence were swiftly condemned by Ludovic Fagaut, the Mayor of Besançon, who took to social media to express his disapproval. “Nothing can justify exploiting a popular sporting event to cause destruction, disrupt public order, and foster a sense of insecurity,” he stated emphatically. Mayor Fagaut affirmed that efforts to identify those responsible are actively underway, with the clear intention of “bringing them to justice.”

Reinforcements from the CRS (Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité) were dispatched to the scene. The post-match atmosphere saw between 600 and 800 people circulating throughout the city, with roughly a hundred individuals becoming volatile at various points. Approximately fifty of these actively engaged in confrontations with police forces.

As of now, five individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the unrest, comprising four minors and one adult.