Riots break out after France loses to Spain in the Eurocup. Fans watching the game at the Hyundai Fan Park in Paris begin to hurl bottles at the police and set off flares and fireworks. Then the tear gas canisters land and the gas fills the air. A bunch of people flee while others with shirts tied around their heads continue to launch whatever they can find. As the smoke and gas dissipates the sound of thousands of coughs echoes around the park.
I was standing on a bench taking photos while everyone around me was fleeing. I tied a French flag, which I had brought with me, around my face in order to keep out the worst of the smoke and gas, but I only had about 20 seconds to shoot before the full force of the tear gas hit me and I started coughing and couldn't see anymore from the tears and had to flee too.
Other shots from the matches are in this collection:
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Excellent photojournalist shots. I also thought this would do better. Catching a bit more of the Eiffel Tower in the the top shot as a frame of reference might have helped your score a bit. Looks like you were right in amongst it -- be careful out there.
Thanks for writing in the comments. Geez, that seems excessive for a soccer game? When Ireland lost we cheered... though we had no expectations really.
Yeah people were pretty extreme, though in the end I think most of those rioting were already decided on starting a riot (or setting off their fireworks at least) and losing the match was more of a trigger.
ETA: then again.. if France had won there probably would have been more celebratory fireworks and flares than bottles.
Thanks for writing in the comments. Geez, that seems excessive for a soccer game? When Ireland lost we cheered... though we had no expectations really.
This is the best and most evocative entry. The B&W, the slight motion blur really immerse the viewer and make him feel the moment of tension and anxiety.
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