Patrice Evra admits he has ‘so much to learn’ after his £2,670 fine for homophobic language
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Patrice Evra vowed to “keep learning” after his criminal conviction for making homophobic comments in 2019, insisting that “vulgar language” was normal growing up.
The former France star filmed a swearing, homophobic tirade towards Paris Saint-Germain in the wake of their Champions League loss against Manchester United in 2019.
After United’s 3-1 win, Evra reportedly went to dinner in Paris with a friend of Paul Pogba’s, who asked him to send a mocking video to a PSG fan.
The former Red Devils captain was filmed saying: ‘Paris, you’re a fag, you’re a fag. Here, it is the men who speak.
The Snapchat video caused outrage across France and prompted two anti-hate organizations, Mousse and Stop Homophobia, to complain in March 2019.
Patrice Evra was fined €3,000 (£2,670) last week for posting homophobic abuse online in 2019
Former Red Devils captain claimed homophobic language was ‘normal’ as a child
Subsequently, Evra attended a police interview and last Thursday received a collection of fines in court. She received an initial fine of €1,000 (£890) and was ordered to pay €2,000 (£1,780) in compensation to the two anti-hate campaigning groups.
“I’m hurt because this doesn’t represent me,” Evra said. The times this week. ‘Yes, I used vulgar language because when I was little this was normal. It makes me think that I have a lot to learn but I will continue learning.
‘The police were laughing because they knew I didn’t use the words [to be offensive]. They say we don’t have to continue the case because we know who Patrice is.
‘It was a private message, I used words that were used when I was a child. That was how I grew up.
Despite his criminal conviction, Evra claimed that the whistleblowers were “starting a battle with the wrong guy.”
A Snapchat video of the former France international in 2019 saw him call PSG players ‘queers’
‘It was a private message, I used words that were used when I was a child. It was the way I grew up. The problem is that you have to adapt. It’s a new world. I immediately apologized because I could see that I offended people,” he continued.
“For four years they fought, but they’re choosing to battle the wrong guy if you look at what I’ve done my whole life, which is accept everyone for who they are.
‘It’s painful because it’s not who I am. I have to pay those two associations and I hope they use the money for good things, but it’s not just about the money, it’s about me being in this situation when I’m not that person.
‘I made a mistake. In my youth it was not a mistake and now it is. Since that incident I have never used those words.
I have recognized the problem of homophobia in the world of football, so it is crazy for me to have this bad press for something I did four years ago.
‘It wasn’t because I meant it, I just used those words. I offended people, I apologized many times.
His X-rated tirade followed his former team Manchester United beating Paris Saint-Germain
‘I lost the case, I paid them and I’m fine with that. But I’m not okay with people trying to paint an image that I’m not.’
Following Thursday’s conviction, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Etienne Deshoulieres, issued a statement saying: “Homophobic comments by a personality like Patrice Evra fuel hatred and violence against LGBT people, particularly in countries where homosexuality is criminally repressed, as in Senegal, the country where Patrice Evra comes from’.
Evra was born in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and later moved to Paris as a child.
Evra’s Jerome Boursican said his client “did not want to harm the gay community” and instead was only “aimed at [insults] at PSG’.
The lawyer said Evra had posted an apology video the day after the offensive aired.