Trouble in Paris After PSG Champions League Win

Lesson made on June 1, 2025

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Reading Lesson:

After Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won their first Champions League title with a big 5-0 win against Inter Milan, many fans in France were excited and went out to celebrate. But in some places, the celebrations turned into chaos, especially in Paris.

Late Saturday night, crowds gathered on the Champs-Élysées, a famous street in Paris. Some people started lighting fireworks and setting cars on fire. Police had to step in to stop the trouble, and they arrested nearly 500 people in Paris alone. Around 70 more were arrested in other parts of the country.

Lots of people got hurt, too. Almost 200 people in the crowd were injured, and so were many police officers and firefighters. Over 200 cars were burned, and more than 600 fires were reported in one night. PSG said they were very upset about the violence and said the win should be a time of happiness, not trouble.

The violence led to arguments among French politicians. One official said real fans were just enjoying the victory, while a small group of “thugs” caused problems. Another politician said the police used too much force, like tear gas, even on peaceful people.

Earlier in the day, some PSG and Inter Milan fans got into fights at a train station in Germany while on the way to the game. They even blocked train tracks, causing delays.

Even though more than 11 million people in France watched the game and many fans celebrated peacefully, the violence afterwards has caused sadness and raised questions about how these events were handled.

Comprehension Quiz:

1. What is the main idea of the article?

a) PSG is the best football team in Europe
b) Football games should not be shown on TV
c) PSG’s win led to celebration and violence
d) Fans from Germany caused a lot of problems

2. The celebrations turned into chaos. What does “chaos” mean?

a) A fun party
b) A peaceful and well-organized parade
c) A group of police officers
d) A confusing and dangerous situation

3. A French politician blamed the violence on “thugs”? What are “thugs”?

a) Very rich businessmen
b) Peaceful protesters
c) People causing trouble or acting violently
d) Police officers

4. Why were many people in Paris unhappy after the celebration?

a) The team lost the match
b) It rained during the celebration
c) The police stopped the game
d) The celebrations became dangerous and violent

5. What can we guess about how PSG feels after the celebrations?

a) They are proud and happy about the violence
b) They want to move to another country
c) They plan to cancel future games
d) They are upset that the victory caused trouble

6. What is one reason some people blame the police?

a) They canceled the match
b) They did not arrest enough people
c) They were too aggressive with the crowd
d) They played music too loudly

7. Which of these statements is false?

a) Over 11 million people watched the match in France
b) PSG was unhappy about the violence
c) Some cars were burned in Paris
d) The game had a very close score

8. What does the article suggest about football fans in general?

a) All football fans are violent
b) Most fans want to celebrate peacefully
c) Football fans should not go outside
d) Only police can enjoy football safely

9. Why is it important to control celebrations after big wins?

a) To protect people and stop violence
b) So the team can leave the stadium quickly
c) To keep people from watching the game
d) To give the police a chance to celebrate

10. Where did the championship match take place?

a) Germany
b) Italy
c) France
d) England

Speaking and Writing Activities:

– Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.

– Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.

1. Have you ever been in a big crowd or at a public celebration? What was it like?

2. Why do you think people sometimes act badly during celebrations?

3. Do you think a soccer team should be responsible for what fans do after the game? Why or why not?

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