Amid riots and looting, France makes big call on PSG vs Barcelona Champions League showdown

Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League clash against Barcelona will go ahead as scheduled on Tuesday in Paris, despite a wave of protests, riots and looting across France that has prompted authorities to consider localised curfews and tighten security.French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the decision after an emergency meeting with senior government officials, saying the possibility of postponing sporting events had been discussed but that it would not affect Tuesday’s fixture at the Parc des Princes.“But this does not apply to tomorrow's match between PSG and FC Barcelona,” Nuñez said, adding that other matches scheduled in European competitions this week would not be affected.The decision comes amid a tense security situation across the country, with violence targeting city halls, public buildings and businesses and more than 2,000 arrests reported. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has instructed prefects to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews in areas at risk of further unrest.PSG and Barcelona meet in crucial Champions League clashTuesday’s fixture is a major European contest, with PSG hosting Barcelona at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League league phase. Both sides have won their opening two matches and will look to maintain their perfect records.The fixture will require a robust security deployment, with police forces already stretched following weeks of student protests. In May, Paris police detained dozens of people after violence disrupted celebrations following PSG’s second Champions League title win, while a group also attempted to storm a police station in the capital.Security tightened amid nationwide unrestThe French government is preparing for heightened security around the fixture after a weekend of violence and looting across the country. Businesses and public buildings were targeted, while authorities acknowledged that the unrest had overwhelmed police in some areas.Nuñez admitted that authorities had “lost control” in some major cities on Saturday, when hundreds of businesses were looted.The Interior Minister offered his resignation on Sunday, but President Emmanuel Macron asked him to remain in office to address police requirements during the emergency.Macron also instructed Nuñez “to take all necessary steps to ensure full transparency about the failures in planning and intelligence-gathering that led to the violence.”Meanwhile, Lecornu said details of the areas that would be placed under curfew would be announced later. Despite the unrest, the government has decided not to postpone the PSG-Barcelona clash.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.