Following a recent Champions League match, a group of approximately fifty individuals initiated disturbances near Pont Robert Schwint, effectively halting traffic flow. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers encountered these individuals, predominantly minors, who began pelting them with projectiles. Five police officers sustained minor injuries during the confrontation. Motorists, caught in the gridlock, were startled to witness young people climbing onto their vehicles, resulting in damage to at least one car. The group subsequently moved towards the city center, concentrating around Place de la Révolution.

Our observations indicate that tear gas was deployed across several streets, including Grande rue, Battant, and rue Courbet. Numerous pedestrians and patrons enjoying outdoor terraces were quickly ushered to safety by restaurateurs as the tear gas dispersed. Local residents also reported their electric bicycles being toppled and vandalized, alongside damage to various pieces of urban furniture.

Besançon mayor condemns post-match violence

The acts of violence were swiftly condemned by Ludovic Fagaut, the Mayor of Besançon, who took to social media to express his disapproval. “Nothing can justify exploiting a popular sporting event to cause destruction, disrupt public order, and instill a sense of insecurity,” he stated. Mayor Fagaut affirmed that efforts are underway to identify the perpetrators, ensuring they are “brought before justice.”

CRS units were dispatched to the scene. An estimated 600 to 800 people were roaming the city post-match, with up to a hundred young individuals becoming sporadically aggressive. Around fifty of these confronted the police.

To date, five people have been apprehended in connection with the incidents, comprising four minors and one adult.