Algeria’s victory in the Arab Cup final this Saturday in Qatar was the source of major outbursts on the Champs-Elysées, where supporters gathered to celebrate their team. So much so that the police were forced to intervene.
No less than 432 people were fined and 32 arrested in the Champs-Elysées area, on the night of Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 December, according to the “final report” communicated by the Paris police headquarters this Sunday morning.
In a tense face-to-face, the police had indeed been forced to intervene to disperse many supporters still present around the Arc de Triomphe and along the avenue des Champs-Elysées (8th ) early in the evening. The match took place at 4 p.m.
Final sector report #ChampsElysees as part of the final #TUNALG of the #FIFArabCup :
verbalizations
arrests pic.twitter.com/pmzlUkVg2d
– Police Prefecture (@prefpolice) December 19, 2021
Earlier in the evening, the supporters had let their joy explode in the district of Barbès (18th) in Paris, before heading to the famous avenue des Champs-Elysées, where it is customary to come and celebrate victories.
A security perimeter had been established
Except that anticipating possible overflows, the prefecture of police (PP) of Paris had taken a prefectural decree this Thursday, December 16 to “establish a security perimeter” around the site, illuminated on the occasion of the end of year celebrations. year, especially frequented by tourists at this time.
A decision motivated, according to the PP, by the fact that overflows had already “occurred during the previous matches of this cup” during which the supporters had “invaded the traffic routes” and sent “projectiles, smoke and mortars in the direction of the forces of the order”.
Saturday evening, around 8 p.m. already, the PP had therefore “reminded supporters of the Arab Cup that gatherings are prohibited on the Champs-Elysées sector”, and this, precisely in order to “prevent disturbances in the public order ”, even though the“ first verbalizations ”had already taken place.
It is the first time that Algeria, which already holds the title of African champion, has won the Arab Football Cup. A victory obtained (2-0) against Tunisia, during extra time.