Sun Jul 13 18:10:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

French police are deploying 11,500 officers in the Greater Paris area in anticipation of potential riots surrounding the Club World Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea on Sunday and the upcoming Bastille Day holiday. Strict measures, including banning fan zones and gatherings, and closing key areas, are in place due to past incidents of unrest following PSG victories.

**News Article:**

**Paris Braces for Potential Riots: 11,500 Police Deployed for Club World Cup Final and Bastille Day**

Paris, France – With Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) set to face Chelsea in the Club World Cup final on Sunday, French authorities are taking no chances. A massive police presence of 11,500 officers will be deployed across the Greater Paris area to prevent potential riots, a move compounded by concerns surrounding the upcoming Bastille Day holiday on Monday.

Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez announced the extensive deployment, citing the need to safeguard the city during both the high-profile football match and the national holiday. “We are mobilizing to ensure public safety in light of the match and the upcoming Bastille Day celebrations, a period when we have historically seen incidents of unrest,” Nuñez told BFMTV.

In the lead-up to the final, police have already conducted 300 operations, confiscating approximately 2,000 fireworks and arresting around a dozen individuals. To further mitigate the risk of disturbances, a ban has been imposed on fan zones and large-scale public viewings of the match in Paris. Gatherings on the Champs-Élysées avenue are also prohibited, and iconic locations like Place de l’Étoile and Place de la Concorde will be completely closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic on Sunday evening. The closures also serve to facilitate preparations for the traditional military parade on Monday morning in celebration of Bastille Day.

These stringent measures are largely a response to the widespread riots and vandalism that followed PSG’s Champions League triumph in June. That victory triggered chaos, with 563 arrests made nationwide, including 491 in Paris, as properties were damaged and shops looted. Authorities are determined to prevent a repeat of such incidents, prioritizing public safety and order during this weekend’s events.

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