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Violence mars Paris St Germain's title celebrations

May 14, 2013 10:17 IST

Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 title celebrations were cut short on Monday after clashes between spectators and police in the west of the French capital.

Some of those involved wore PSG shirts and climbed on to temporary scaffolding as the soccer club's players were showing off the French champions' trophy.

Fans gesture as they face riot Gendarmes in front of the Eiffel Tower on Monday"The scaffolding is going to collapse. We can't welcome the players in these conditions," the ceremony's public announcer said as the players were forced to leave the Place du Trocadero earlier than expected.

Riot police fired tear gas to try to disperse the crowd after up to 15,000 people -- according to police -- gathered to celebrate PSG's first league title since 1994.

Bus shelters were destroyed during the episode with some of the people involved covering their faces.

"It is a pity that we had to deal with some troublemakers," Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe told French broadcaster BFM TV.

A PSG players' cruise on the Seine river, which was part of the scheduled celebrations, was cancelled, the club said on its website (www.psg.fr).

Image: Fans gesture as they face riot Gendarmes in front of the Eiffel Tower during clashes between fans and police as several thousand supporters celebrated with Paris Saint-Germain soccer players who received the French Championship trophy in Paris on Monday. Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 title celebrations were cut short on Monday after clashes between spectators and police in the west of the French capital

Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

Source: REUTERS
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