The Champs-Elysees was cleared by riot police in less than an hour amid clashes with fans

Paris saw intense clashes between police and fans on Sunday night after the French national team was defeated by Argentina in the final match of the World Cup in Qatar. Officers in riot gear were deployed to disperse crowds on the Champs-Elysees.

“In such a situation, only those who have come to fight … remain,” a police source told Le Parisien. Photos and videos published on social media show large groups of police officers in riot gear chasing fans down the Champs-Elysees while kicking and bashing them with their shields.

Fans are seen fighting back and throwing fireworks at the officers in some of the videos, though most only show the crowd running away. One video shows a man lying on the ground surrounded by police. According to Le Parisien, officers charged a small crowd that was throwing bottles and fireworks and managed to quickly disperse them.

La BRAV dans ses œuvres. Visiblement, personne n’a le droit de rester sur les #ChampsElysées, tout le monde doit quitter les lieux et en courant, sous peine de prendre un coup de bouclier. #WorldCupFinal #ArgentinaVsFrance #FRAARG #WorldCup #Paris #ARGFRA #FIFAWorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/t7bSJDEJQI

— Thibault Penet (@_Thibault_penet) December 18, 2022

Les forces de l’ordre chargent de tous les côtés sur l’avenue des Champs-Elysées devenue piétonne exceptionnellement. #ArgentinaVsFrance #coupedumonde2022 pic.twitter.com/G1iITSNazA

— AB7 Média (@Ab7Media) December 18, 2022

One hour after the match, police arrested ten people for possession of fireworks, Le Parisien reported. There were no reports of injuries or property damage, though some people on social media spoke of riots in Paris following the match.

Source: RT - Daily news