The highly anticipated Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Barcelona is set to proceed as planned on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes. This confirmation comes from the French Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, following a weekend marked by widespread protests, violence, and looting across France.
Minister Nuñez made the announcement after an emergency meeting with top government officials, where the possibility of cancelling planned events, including football matches, was discussed. He affirmed that the PSG vs Barcelona match, along with other European competition fixtures this week, would not be affected. This includes the Lille vs Galatasaray match scheduled for Wednesday.
The recent unrest saw city halls, public buildings, and hundreds of businesses targeted, leading to over 2,000 arrests. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has since instructed prefects to implement "very limited" and "localised" curfews in cities to prevent further rioting. Nuñez had reportedly offered his resignation on Sunday, but President Emmanuel Macron asked him to remain in his post to address police needs.
Tuesday's match will require a significant security presence, as police forces are already stretched due to weeks of student protests. In May, violence also disrupted celebrations of PSG's second successive Champions League triumph, leading to dozens of arrests.