The Paris police prefecture has banned gatherings of supporters on the Champs-Elysées during the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, in order to prevent the risk of unrest.

The Paris police prefecture has decided to restrict gatherings of supporters on the Champs-Élysées during the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025). According to information reported by Le Parisien, the Paris police prefecture issued a new decree on Tuesday, December 23, prohibiting all gatherings of supporters on the famous avenue until 2:00 a.m. on January 1, that is, after the last group match.

This decision comes after a lengthy legal saga. An initial decree, in effect from December 21 to January 19 and covering the entire duration of the Africa Cup of Nations, was overturned by the administrative court. Despite this invalidation, the prefecture chose to reintroduce a nearly identical system, but limited to the group stage.

A large area is affected

The authorities justify this measure by citing the risk of public disorder, particularly the use of pyrotechnics, in an area heavily frequented by tourists and especially vulnerable during the holiday season. Previous disturbances observed during past editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, notably in 2023 when Ivory Coast won the tournament, are also cited.

The affected area extends from the Porte Dauphine and Porte Maillot to the Tuileries Garden, including part of the Seine riverbanks. The prefecture has not ruled out further restrictions for the remainder of the competition, through successive decrees, as has already been the case during previous major sporting events, Le Parisien reports.