After Paris Saint-Germain’s big Champions League win on Saturday, the city erupted into wild celebrations.
But behind the cheers and fireworks, a much darker story unfolded.
Women in Paris found themselves targeted and attacked during violent riots that spiraled out of control.
The joyous atmosphere quickly turned hostile and frightening, revealing a harsh reality many hadn’t expected amid the festivities.
Terrifying Attacks Caught on Camera
Videos circulating online paint a chilling picture of the chaos.
One harrowing clip shows a large group of men surrounding two young women in the middle of the city.
The crowd screams aggressively, climbs onto their car, and smashes the windows while the women try desperately to drive through the chaos.
The women huddle in fear, overwhelmed by the violent mob.
The video cuts out right after the window breaks, leaving viewers anxious about what happened next.
The Scale of the Violence
The night’s violence was widespread. French authorities arrested about 500 people, and tragically, two lives were lost.
Nearly 200 others were injured as clashes erupted across Paris and other parts of France.
Shops were vandalized and looted, vehicles set ablaze, and stabbings were reported.
The majority of the rioters were men, many heavily intoxicated as they took over the streets in celebration—but the mood quickly turned aggressive and unsafe, especially for women.
Women Speak Out About Assaults and Harassment
Dounia, an 18-year-old Parisian student, shared her disturbing experience with Le Parisien.
She was out celebrating with friends along the Seine when a drunken man in his forties suddenly grabbed her inappropriately.
“I felt his hand on my buttocks before I even had a chance to react,” she recalled, still shaken days later.
When she confronted him, he insulted her and pushed her away.
Similarly, TikTok creator Lily-Rose described cycling through the city after the game, terrified for her safety. “People were throwing broken glass bottles at me.
I thought I was going to fall off my bike,” she said. Luckily, the shards hit the bike frame instead of her.
Her night, which should have been full of happiness, was ruined by what she called “problematic and misogynistic behavior.”
She added, “I’m still shaking—I honestly thought I might die several times.”
Celebration Cut Short by Fear
Other women who were also there to cheer on PSG said they barely lasted fifteen minutes before being harassed.
One group said they were groped repeatedly, making it impossible to enjoy the victory
. “We want to celebrate, but we can’t,” one said.
Even women who weren’t out celebrating found themselves caught in the turmoil.
One woman told how she was threatened by a drunk PSG fan just for taking out her trash near her apartment.
She described how the man aggressively blocked her way, forcing her to rush back inside and lock her door, pepper spray in hand.
Online Backlash and Victim Blaming
While many condemned the violence online, some responses were disturbingly misogynistic.
Comments like “Why were you out?” or “You’re a woman going to Paris during chaos—what did you expect?” flooded social media platforms.
These cruel remarks added insult to injury, frustrating victims like Dounia who stressed, “Women should be able to go outside freely, regardless of what’s happening around them.”
The Bigger Picture of Safety Concerns in France
The incidents during the riots shine a spotlight on a larger problem in France.
Statistics show that sexual assaults occur roughly every four minutes in the country, with women comprising 85% of the victims.
Nearly half of French women report feeling unsafe in public spaces—a reality that events like the PSG riots only highlight more starkly.
Government Response and Condemnation
In response to the violent night, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed PSG players at the Élysée Palace on Sunday.
He condemned the attacks and chaos as “unacceptable.” Macron promised strict action: “We will pursue, we will punish, we will be relentless.”
His message was clear — there can be no excuse for the violence that marred what should have been a night of celebration.