L'Equipe: France to Deploy 22,000 Police Officers and Gendarmes for PSG vs Arsenal Champions League Final

According to L'Equipe, France will mobilize 22,000 police officers and gendarmes on the night of the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

This Saturday's Champions League final will be held in Budapest, with Paris Saint-Germain facing Arsenal. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced in an interview with Brut on Wednesday that 22,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed across France, including 8,000 in Paris and its surrounding areas.

Last year, when Paris Saint-Germain defeated Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final in Munich to lift the trophy, authorities had already carried out a large-scale security operation, with 5,400 police officers and gendarmes deployed throughout the Paris metropolitan area. Following that victory, incidents of violence occurred, particularly on the Champs-Élysées and around the Parc des Princes. As will be the case this Saturday, the final was also broadcast live at the stadium.

In mid-May, Laurent Nunez told La Tribune Dimanche that large crowds were expected to gather if PSG were to win the title. At the time, he revealed that “the central section of the Champs-Élysées would be pedestrianized and police forces would be deployed to prevent any disorder.” He added that he was “not worried,” describing his approach as “calm in mindset and firm in action.”

Nunez also announced that if PSG win on Saturday, the Paris Police Prefecture is working with the club to organize a trophy presentation in the French capital on Sunday. He confirmed that plans are being considered for celebrations at the Champ de Mars, the large public space located beneath the Eiffel Tower in central Paris.

On the night of PSG's Champions League triumph in 2025, police arrested 563 people, including 491 in Paris, while 307 individuals were taken into custody. A further 79 arrests were made the following evening. At the time, Laurent Nunez was serving as Paris Police Prefect, while Bruno Retailleau was France's Interior Minister.