Five days before the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, scheduled for May 30 in Budapest, the City of Paris, the Parisian club and the Police Prefecture published a joint press release to call for calm and regulate this event presented as “a highlight for Paris, the inhabitants of the Paris metropolitan area and all of France”. While concerns around possible excesses have been growing for several days, the authorities assure that they are working “in close collaboration in the organization of this exceptional end of the day” in order to allow “for as many people as possible to fully experience this final in the best conditions, in a spirit of responsibility, conviviality and respect for everyone”. In this context, the capital will be dressed in the colors of PSG: the Eiffel Tower will be illuminated in red and blue from May 29, while 150 light panels will broadcast messages of support sent by supporters via the City website. On the evening of the match, the Eiffel Tower will also sparkle at 5:45 p.m., as the players enter the Puskás Aréna pitch.
The press release also details an important security system, in a context marked by the violence observed during previous PSG celebrations and fears of tensions with English supporters. The Police Prefecture thus announces “an important security system, in Paris and in the inner suburbs, in order to prevent any excess and abuse”with reinforced measures in transport and usual gathering places. Traffic restrictions and “prohibition of transport of dangerous objects” will also be put in place. At the same time, the Parc des Princes will host a giant broadcast of the final in front of 48,000 people, in “the atmosphere of great European evenings”including 500 children from Parisian football clubs invited for the occasion. The City also promises exceptional reinforcement of cleaning and security teams throughout the weekend. The authorities conclude their speech with a solemn call for good citizenship: “it is up to everyone that sport remains a celebration”inviting supporters to “adopt responsible behavior”to favor public transport and to respect the instructions of the police.
