French minister calls those celebrating 'barbarians'

PSG became the UEFA Champions League champion after winning the final match against Italian representative Inter 5-0.

In the capital Paris and across the country, PSG fans who took to the streets to support their team during the match have continued their celebrations following the victory.

Interior Minister Retailleau stated in a post on the X social media platform that while true PSG fans watched the match with excitement, "At the same time, some barbarians took to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke security forces."

Stating that he has instructed security forces to intervene firmly against these actions, Retailleau remarked, "It is unacceptable that celebrations cannot take place without worrying about the savagery of a small minority of agitators who have no respect for anything."

Retailleau's labeling of those celebrating PSG's victory as "barbarians" has drawn criticism.

Far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party MP Antoine Leaument criticized the heavy use of tear gas at Madeleine, one of the open metro stations closest to the Champs-Élysées where fans were gathered, commenting on X, "Is the project to prevent people from celebrating the victory? The barbarian is in the Ministry of the Interior."

Opposition MP Alexis Corbiere also quoted Retailleau's statement on X, noting that such a post does not befit a Republican Interior Minister, and stated, "It is necessary to oppose the violence of those who want to ruin the celebration, but why use words like 'barbarian' and 'savagery' which carry foreign and almost animalistic connotations? Even when people are happy, this man still hates."

LFI MP Thomas Portes shared on his social media account, "We may have political disagreements, but the word 'barbarian' has no place in the mouth of an Interior Minister. Bruno Retailleau has confirmed tonight that he is a racist interior minister."

Meanwhile, according to news reported by Le Figaro citing the Paris Police Prefecture, 131 people were detained in incidents that broke out in France following PSG's championship. During the incidents, 2 vehicles were set on fire and one store was looted.

French channel BFMTV reported that 3 people were injured in the city of Grenoble after a driver lost control of their vehicle and plowed into pedestrians.

News Source: AA