Emmanuel Grégoire, the Mayor of Paris, has officially abandoned plans to establish a public fan zone for the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal on May 30. Following significant pushback from the police prefecture and concerns over a heavily congested security schedule, the match broadcast will now be primarily centered at the Parc des Princes.
The decision to scrap the free public viewing area came after a high-level meeting between the socialist mayor and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Before this consultation, Emmanuel Grégoire had already acknowledged the reservations expressed by police authorities, who had formally advised against the project earlier in the week.
“The timing is simply not right,” the mayor admitted. Security forces are already expected to be at maximum capacity on May 30 due to a series of major events across the capital. These include a performance by Aya Nakamura at the Stade de France, a concert by rapper Damso at the La Défense Arena, and a show by Bouss at the Accor Arena. Each of these venues requires a massive police presence, making the addition of a public fan zone unfeasible.
Security concerns follow semi-final unrest
While the city-wide fan zone is off the table, a giant screen broadcast is still scheduled within the Parc des Princes. However, even this controlled environment will necessitate a substantial deployment of law enforcement. Despite the cancellation, Emmanuel Grégoire maintained his long-term goal of hosting free public gatherings in the city for future major events.
The cautious approach follows a wave of violence that erupted after the semi-final victory against Bayern, which resulted in 127 arrests across the Paris metropolitan area. During those celebrations, eleven people were injured, one seriously, while 23 police officers sustained minor injuries. These figures echo the chaos seen after last year’s Champions League victory, where more than 500 individuals were detained following incidents in the capital and other regions.
The initial proposal for the fan zone had already drawn fire from Laurent Nuñez, who criticized what he described as a “unilateral” announcement by the mayor immediately after PSG qualified for the final. Opposition members, including Eric Schahl, have also voiced their disapproval, accusing the mayor of failing to consult with district leaders before making public promises that he eventually had to retract.
