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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.

 Patrice Evra is set for a hefty ban after kicking one of his own supporters
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Patrice Evra is set for a hefty ban after kicking one of his own supportersCredit: Offside / L'Equipe
 He and the Marseille squad had an angry confrontation with their fans in Portugal before their Europa League clash against Vitoria
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He and the Marseille squad had an angry confrontation with their fans in Portugal before their Europa League clash against VitoriaCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Former Manchester United star Evra lost his cool and punted a supporter around the side of the head
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Former Manchester United star Evra lost his cool and punted a supporter around the side of the headCredit: Getty

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.

 Patrice Evra was involved in a furious bust-up with his own supporters before Marseilles clash at Vitoria
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Patrice Evra was involved in a furious bust-up with his own supporters before Marseilles clash at VitoriaCredit: AFP
 The Marseille squad had confronted their supporters pitchside in Portugal
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The Marseille squad had confronted their supporters pitchside in PortugalCredit: AP:Associated Press

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.


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Evra had been named on the bench for the game, but the referee issued him with a red card for his actions.

That left the Ligue 1 side with just six substitutes for the game.

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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.

 Evra was reported to have been on the receiving end of criticism from his own fans throughout the build-up
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Evra was reported to have been on the receiving end of criticism from his own fans throughout the build-upCredit: AP:Associated Press
 He then launched a kick at a fan before his team-mates had to restrain him and pull him away
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He then launched a kick at a fan before his team-mates had to restrain him and pull him awayCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Evra was then given his marching orders by the referee before the game had even kicked off
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Evra was then given his marching orders by the referee before the game had even kicked offCredit: Getty

"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.

 

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.

 Manchester United legend Eric Cantona was involved in an furious altercation with a fan back in 1995
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Manchester United legend Eric Cantona was involved in an furious altercation with a fan back in 1995Credit: PA:Press Association
 The Frenchman received an eight month ban from football and got 120 hours community service after launching a kung-fu kick at a Crystal Palace supporter
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The Frenchman received an eight month ban from football and got 120 hours community service after launching a kung-fu kick at a Crystal Palace supporterCredit: Getty - Contributor

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.

 

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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.

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 Luis Suarez was banned eight matches after he racially abused Evra
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Luis Suarez was banned eight matches after he racially abused EvraCredit: AFP

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.

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Watch former Man United star Patrice Evra riding a camel through the desert!

 

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