French Authorities Detain Over 160 After Clashes Following World Cup Semifinal Loss

The Paris Police Prefecture reported detaining 141 individuals in the Paris region, the bulk of them for directing firework mortars at police officers and emergency crews. BFMTV placed the cumulative arrests from the two cities above 160. No serious injuries were recorded in connection with the events, the prefecture stated.

Local authorities in Lyon said around 20 arrests took place after several hundred fans assembled at Place Bellecour to follow the match on screens and some among them began launching projectiles, including fireworks, toward security forces. Those taken into custody had all been born between 2002 and 2011. The authorities confirmed the absence of both injuries and substantial property damage.

Spain advanced to the World Cup final by defeating France 2-0 in the semifinal contested in Dallas on July 14, according to coverage by Al Jazeera. Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro scored the goals that ended French hopes of claiming a third title. The match formed part of the 2026 tournament hosted across North America.

The disturbances arrive months after a larger outbreak tied to club football, when The Athletic reported 780 arrests across France following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final victory in May. French officials at the time noted a 32 percent increase compared with the preceding year. Such episodes have highlighted ongoing challenges in policing large fan gatherings.

In the 2024-2025 domestic football season in England and Wales, authorities logged 1,932 arrests, an 11 percent drop from the year before, a United Kingdom government statistical bulletin showed. The rate equated to 4.2 arrests per 100,000 spectators. The French incidents contrast with that trend but align with patterns seen in celebratory or disappointed crowds.

Riot police responded promptly in both French cities to restore order, the Arab Times dispatch indicated. Interventions in Paris centered on preventing further use of fireworks against responders. In Lyon the action targeted groups throwing objects at officers stationed near the public viewing area.