Patrice Evra KICKS Marseille fan in the head before referee sends off ex-Manchester United ace over violent scenes
Frenchman had just finished the warm-up ahead of the Europa League match against Vitoria when he became involved in a fight with away fans and punted one
PATRICE EVRA was sent off BEFORE Marseille's game at Vitoria de Guimaraes on Thursday after a Cantona-style KICK on a fan.
The former Manchester United star became involved in a heated exchange with the travelling French fans following the warm-up at the Europa League clash.
Reporters claim that a number of words were exchanged between Marseille's players and their followers before the defender decided to retaliate physically.
According to tweets from journalists and those in attendance, Evra had been the victim of singing and insults for around half an hour as he prepared for the game.
However, before heading back to the dressing-room after the warm-up, he went over to the travelling section before the situation blew up.
As the video footage shows, a number of fans had made their way out of the stand and got pitchside after Evra had gone over to confront them.
The star vaulted over advertising hoardings and demanded his hecklers join him pitchside, and he went on to land a punch on one of them who had sprinted towards him before he was pulled away by team-mates.
A number of the Marseille side then attempted to defuse the situation before Evra darted around to the side of the group and swung a high left kick at one of the fans - sparking the furious scenes.
Patrice Evra reveals incredible fitness and brutal work-out regime
The club could now face a hefty fine by Uefa while Evra is definitely looking at an extended suspension — with French paper L'Equipe claiming it could be the end of his Marseille career.
Not only will he face an automatic three-match ban for the red card, he will almost certainly be hit with a further suspension for the kick.
Marseille manager Rudi Garcia said: "We'll see what happened. As far as I'm concerned, I have information, but I did not see anything because I was in the dressing room.
"On the other hand, I can say two things: Patrice, given his experience, must not respond to provocations. What must also be said is that the supporter in question is not a supporter of OM.
"When we are, we do not insult one of his players. But once again, Pat has experience and he should not have reacted. I found myself with one less solution (from the bench)."
The love story between Evra and the supporters of Marseille has now apparently completely disintegrated.
The 36-year-old left-back, who joined the club from Juventus in January on an 18-month contract, has lost his place this season to ex-Aston Villa man Jordan Amavi.
He has been increasingly criticised for his performances on the pitch and his offbeat videos that he posts on social media.
Evra is not the only man with Manchester United connections to have been involved in a kicking incident with a supporter.
Back on 25 January 1995 Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona caused controversy around the world in an away match at Crystal Palace.
0 - Patrice Evra is the 1st player to receive a red card before the kick off of a game in the history of the EL (2009/10). Karateka. pic.twitter.com/9Ii92bLnU7
The Frenchman had just been sent-off by the referee for a kick on opposition defender Richard Shaw.
As he walked towards the tunnel along the touchline, Cantona launched a kung-fu kick towards Palace supporter Matthew Simmons after he had ran down 11 flights of stairs to confront and direct abuse at the Red Devils forward.
Cantona followed the kick with a series of punches and was hit with a NINE MONTH ban from all football and also with a criminal charge of assault.
He was eventually sentenced to 120 hours of community service.
United hit him with a £20,000 fine while the Football Association and Fifa gave him an eight-month suspension from football and fined him a further £10,000.
Evra has been in hot water before over losing his temper back in 2008.
He was handed a four-match ban and and fined £15,000 after he clashed with Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethell as the Red Devils warmed down after a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
He was found guilty of pushing Bethell with his chest and then striking him on the side of the head.
Patrick Evra sings Bob Marley classic, One Love
Then as the incident had begun to calm down, he subsequently ran back to confront Bethell and became involved in a further physical confrontation.
There was also his infamous clash with former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in December 2011.
Evra accused Suarez of racially abusing him, with the Uruguayan banned eight games and hit with a £40,000 fine from the Football Association.
The pair then clashed again at Old Trafford three months later, when Evra said the striker refused a handshake.
Suarez refuses to shake on it
Marseille lost 1-0 to Vitoria thanks to a Paolo Hurtado strike ten minutes from time. Evra's team-mate Boubacar Kamara joined his colleague in the dressing-room early as he was sent off during the latter stages of the game.
Uefa are expected to confirm on Friday that they will be investigating the incident involving Evra.
Marseille have yet to make a comment, and also ignored the clash on their official Twitter account.
They are next in action at home to Caen in Ligue 1 on Sunday afternoon.