France Keeps PSG Barcelona Match on Schedule Amid Unrest

France will proceed with the Paris Saint-Germain versus Barcelona match despite widespread unrest across the country, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said ahead of the Champions League fixture scheduled for Tuesday. The government has ruled out postponement while preparing additional security measures following violent demonstrations, clashes with security forces, and mass arrests, particularly in Paris. Nuñez said officials had considered postponing public events but had not extended that option to the match at Parc des Princes.

His statement came after the French police union CFTC called for the fixture to be postponed over concerns about further disturbances. "The possibility of postponing events has been studied, but this situation does not apply to tomorrow's PSG match against Barcelona. The match is not in question," said Laurent Nuñez, France's interior minister.

The minister's remarks established the government's position despite concerns raised by the police union. According to the source report, authorities planned to reinforce security arrangements around the match, although specific operational details were not provided.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also announced plans to introduce partial, localized curfews in several areas of France. As of the report's publication, it remained unclear whether the restrictions would affect Paris's 16th arrondissement, where Parc des Princes is located. Authorities were responding to unrest that had spread across multiple French cities, with Paris among the worst-affected locations.

The reported incidents included hundreds of looting cases, numerous arrests, and confrontations between protesters and security forces. A total of 90 demonstrations took place across France.

The unrest followed nationwide protests on Saturday, when more than 500,000 people took to the streets, according to the source report. Demonstrators raised concerns about public education, the rising cost of living, higher fuel prices, the government's tax policies, climate change, and deteriorating public services. Many of the demonstrations escalated into violent clashes, according to the report. The protests placed additional pressure on authorities as they prepared security arrangements for the international soccer fixture.

Provisional figures cited in the report put the nationwide toll at approximately 2,400 arrests and 1,000 injured police officers and firefighters. The unrest also left one person dead after suffering cardiorespiratory arrest, while approximately 3,000 businesses were reportedly targeted in attacks.