French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez ruled out on Monday any doubt regarding the holding of football matches, as security forces continue to confront acts of violence and looting.
Confirmation of Match Continuation
Nunez stated during a press conference at Matignon alongside Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu that the question of whether Tuesday's match in Paris between the first team of Paris Saint-Germain and their Spanish guest Barcelona will take place is not up for debate, nor is the case for "other matches that may be played within European competitions," particularly in Lille.
The French Interior Minister confirmed that the matches are not subject to doubt. Paris Saint-Germain, champions of the past two years, will face their guest Barcelona on Tuesday in the third round of the group stage of the unified Champions League competition, while Lille will play their guest Turkish Galatasaray on Wednesday in the same round.
Protest Toll
French authorities are striving to contain the anger and fears stemming from their management of protests against the rising cost of living, which turned on Saturday into unprecedented acts of violence that also continued on Sunday. Official figures show a massive toll of arrests, with 2,331 people placed in police custody, dozens remanded in pre-trial detention, and around a thousand security force members injured, according to authorities.
Injuries and Developments
Some protesters suffered serious injuries. In the city of Saint-Etienne in eastern central France, the hand of a 17-year-old youth was amputated due to an explosion, and in the city of Mulhouse in the "east," a young woman of the same age lost one of her eyes. Acts of violence continued on Sunday at a less intense pace, with around 350 people arrested during the day and night in Paris.
On Monday morning, students closed the entrances to the Louvre Museum in Paris after gathering to express their "support" for the high school student movement and to condemn "police repression." The "Yellow Vests" movement, which stands behind last Saturday's protests, called for a new day of mobilization next Saturday.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
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