French police detained approximately 160 people overnight on Tuesday after crowds clashed with officers in Paris and Lyon, following the national team's 2-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup semi-final. The Paris police prefecture reported 141 arrests in the capital and its suburbs, while the Rhône prefecture said around 20 people were taken into custody in Lyon, where several hundred had gathered at Place Bellecour to watch the match on giant screens.

According to French authorities, the disturbances involved groups of mostly young people throwing pyrotechnic mortars and other projectiles at law enforcement and emergency services. In Paris, a fire station in the 19th arrondissement was targeted with fireworks mortars shortly before midnight; two individuals were identified and detained. No serious injuries were reported among police officers or the public, and officials stated that no significant material damage had been recorded.

Social media footage circulated overnight showing vehicles and barricades set alight, but these images could not be independently verified. A separate incident in Lyon, in which a man was struck by a projectile around 11 p.m., was under investigation, though authorities said it was not immediately clear whether it was connected to the post-match unrest. The violence erupted despite the deployment of 70,000 police and gendarmes across France for Bastille Day celebrations, which coincided with the semi-final.

The disturbances follow a pattern of football-related disorder in France. In May, celebrations after Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory led to riots in 75 cities, with over 890 arrests and 219 injuries. The semi-final loss ended France’s bid for a third World Cup title. As of Wednesday morning, the situation was calm and the provisional arrest toll remained under review.