The French national team’s triumph over Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals was met with exuberant, largely peaceful festivities across the capital and its suburbs. Despite heightened security concerns ahead of the match, authorities reported only isolated incidents during the night’s revelry.

Minimal arrests recorded

A handful of supporters set off smoke flares in the city center, while suburban areas saw scattered mortar fire. According to a provisional police report issued Friday morning, only ten individuals were taken into custody across Paris and its immediate vicinity. The breakdown included three arrests in Paris for phone theft, four for violent offenses involving weapons and premeditated group violence, and three for mortar fire in Seine-Saint-Denis. It remains unclear how many of these cases resulted in formal detentions.

Scuffle leaves one lightly injured in Paris

In the 7th arrondissement, a minor altercation near quai Jacques Chirac resulted in a stab wound to a supporter’s hip around midnight. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, power outages disrupted plans to screen the match at the Grand Rex cinema, forcing fans to gather in nearby bars instead. Post-match, crowds briefly spilled into the streets, blocking traffic until police intervention restored order.

Security agencies had flagged the France-Morocco clash as a high-risk fixture due to its knockout status and late broadcast time (10 PM). Internal briefings warned of potential public gatherings, pyrotechnic use, and disorder, regardless of the outcome.