Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League match against Barcelona on 20 October was reported to be under serious threat. Officials were weighing up a last-minute curfew that would see the match played behind closed doors, and a curfew around the Parc des Princes was under consideration.
Threat to the fixture
GOAL, citing The Sun, reported that Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Barcelona on 20 October was under serious threat. GOAL, citing The Sun, also reported that fears were growing that French rioters might target the fixture.
A source at the Interior Ministry said: "This is an extremely sensitive time, and violence is likely to break out at any moment, especially when large crowds gather."
Police and government security plans
GOAL, citing The Sun, reported that police were preparing a tight security cordon around the stadium.
If a curfew did not go ahead, a strong cordon would take its place, with around 5,000 riot police deployed across Paris, backed by armoured vehicles and water cannon. Paris police ordered drones into the skies above the capital, with an order allowing up to six of them to be used to prevent acts of terrorism.
A source at the Interior Ministry said: "There will be thousands of additional officers on duty during the match, and this will include special forces officers."
Curfew and closed-doors option
Authorities were preparing special measures such as deploying armoured vehicles ahead of the match. Officials were weighing up a last-minute curfew that would see the match played behind closed doors.
A curfew around the Parc des Princes was under consideration. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said: "The targeted curfew contributed to tonight's calm. I thank the police officers and gendarmes who ensured the law was enforced, as well as the prefects for marshalling the efforts."
He added: "A new curfew will be set tonight wherever circumstances require it."
Unrest figures
The report said the unrest was the most violent wave of rioting in years. At least 3,000 businesses were looted or damaged, and more than 2,400 people were arrested.
Several major cities had already been placed under curfew following the events of a few days earlier. Lecornu said prefects would take those decisions on the ground, in coordination with the mayors, and praised the emergency measures that ensured a relatively calm night in places including Paris and Marseille.