Rabat – The Paris police prefecture issued a statement, announcing the prohibition of all AFCON fan gatherings around the Champs-Élysées.
The announcement came ahead of the much-anticipated Morocco vs Senegal AFCON final, which will take place on Sunday at 8 p.m. Moroccan time.
French police emphasized that the measures came into effect on Saturday and will remain in place until Sunday at 2 a.m.
The prefecture cited a serious risk, recalling that the area is a major tourist site that attracts large crowds.
It also recalled incidents that took place previously due to fans’ gatherings, including damage to public property and disturbances to public order.
“There is a serious risk that during these matches, before or after them, supporters of the teams involved may gather in the Champs-Élysées area and, in particular, use pyrotechnic devices; this is a major and emblematic tourist area that attracts large crowds, especially during the winter tourist season,” the statement said.
It recalled that such gatherings include throwing projectiles and deliberate damage to private property, as well as injuries among security services during spontaneous gatherings of supporters in previous editions of the competition.
“Such gatherings are likely to cause major traffic disruptions, endanger the safety of numerous tourists, and disturb public order,” the statement added.
