Patrice Evra aimed a kick at a Marseille supporter on Thursday night and Uefa have started disciplinary proceedings against the French defender.
Evra was given a red card before his team’s Europa League game away to Portuguese side Vitoria, after becoming involved in a confrontation with a Marseille fan.
The travelling Marseille supporters made their way from the stands to the side of the pitch. Video footage shows that the incident became heated, and Evra can be seen aiming a kick at one of the fans, who reportedly insulted him. The former Manchester United and France captain was escorted away by some of his teammates to the dressing room.
Evra was due to be a substitute in the match, but was sent-off before he could take his place on the bench.
#VSCOM un truc de fou s'est passé entre des supporters semble-t-il Marseillais et des joueurs dont Evra ! Ça a tapé ! @OM_Officiel #TeamOM pic.twitter.com/C9Cozns6X4
— Karim Attab (@karimattab1) November 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_UK/status/926193995767836672
On Friday, Uefa announced that the Marseille defender will miss at least one match and they will discuss the matter further at a meeting on November 10.
UEFA says Marseille defender Patrice Evra has been charged with violent conduct and suspended for at least one game for attacking a fan
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) November 3, 2017
Evra may not get banned for eight months, as former United forward Eric Cantona was in 1995 for kicking a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park, but further punishment seems inevitable.
Marseille manager Rudi Garcia criticised the supporter for goading Evra, but expressed his disappointment in the player.
“He is not a supporter, because you cannot insult your own players, you have to be behind everyone… Patrice is a more than experienced player and we cannot respond to insults so low and so incredible because they come from one of our supporters.”
According to French newspaper L’Equipe, the incident could spell the end of Evra’s time at Marseille, the club he joined from Juventus last January. They report that the 36-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, could face “dismissal for serious misconduct.”.
The defender was reportedly targeted with chants and insults for a half an hour before the incident took place.
Evra a été victime de chants et d'injures pdant une 1/2 heure, il est allé voir le parcage pour s'expliquer, la situation a dégénéré #VscOm https://t.co/sH3r42QaQp
— Mathieu Grégoire (@Serguei) November 2, 2017
L’Equipe report that the fan allegedly said to Evra, “Keep doing your videos, but stop playing football.”
A Marseille fan, who identified himself as “William” told RMC Sport that he was at the match, and the dispute started when supporters insulted the player over his poor form.
“We were in the group of Marseille fans after being welcomed by Guimaraes. When we warmed up, we started to [turn up the] heat on Patrice Evra because it’s been several games that he is not good.
“We warmed it up a bit,” he said, referring the supporters’ chants. “I will not say the words because it’s a little vulgar but he responded.”
