Patrice Evra was sent off before the start of Marseille’s Europa League clash with Vitoria Guimaraes on Thursday after kicking out, Eric Cantona-style at a fan.
The former France and Manchester United full-back got into an altercation with a Marseille fan during the pre-match warm-up in Portugal.
A group of fans were reportedly booing and harrassing Evra during the warm-up, which prompted the player to go over and, initially, talk to the supporters in question.
However, things escalated quickly to the point of violence, with the 36-year-old defender launching a high kung-fu kick at the fellow who appeared to hit him on the head.
Patrice Evra appears to have kicked a Marseille supporter, after some kind of altercation. pic.twitter.com/0ktKpVpdMG
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) November 2, 2017
WTF: Patrice @Evra punches a fan…gets sent off…and then takes a selfie with fans. 😂💥📸
(🎥 @btsportfootball)pic.twitter.com/U7ydGbpvfT— SPORF (@Sporf) November 2, 2017
Evra was duly sent off by the referee, thus becoming the first-ever player to see red before the start of a Europa League game in the entire history of the competition.
Incredible stuff!
What is it with irascible Frenchmen with Manchester United connections?
Expect UEFA to come down heavily on Evra.