Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra claims West Ham teammates wanted gay players removed

Footballer Patrice Evra

Retired Manchester United footballer Patrice Evra has claimed that several of his former West Ham teammates called for any gay players to be removed from the team.

Evra, who represented France 81 times, spent the last few months of his professional career at West Ham, joining the east London club from Marseille in February 2018.

He was fined by a French court recently for posting homophobic comments on his social media in 2019. The 41-year-old star has since apologised, stating that the comments do not represent him.

Evra posted a video to social media after Manchester United’s 3-1 victory against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in March 2019 in which he said: “Paris, you are queers, you are queers. Here [at Manchester United], it’s the men who talk.”

Evra, who played for Manchester United between 2006 and 2014, faced condemnation from PSG over the comments.

Patrice Evra of Manchester United tries to keep the ball in play during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford on January 28, 2014 in Manchester, England.
Parice Evra was fined for using homophobic language in 2019.(Michael Regan/Getty)

In a statement, the French club said: “Paris Saint-Germain condemns Patrice Evra’s homophobic insults aimed at the club, its representatives and its former players in a video released on social media.

You may like to watch

“These remarks profoundly shocked the club, which is particularly committed to the values of respect and inclusiveness.”

In a recent interview with The Times, Evra said that an FA official visited West Ham to talk about inclusion within football – especially the importance of accepting gay players.

“Some of the players said, “If someone is gay in this room then they have to go”, and [they referenced] their religion,” Evra told the newspaper.

“I stood up and said, ‘Shut up everyone, are we still judging people for who they are?'”

In the Times article, the former Premier League star said he will “keep learning”.

Please login or register to comment on this story.