Patrice Evra on wanting to ‘hit’ Luis Suárez and the vile death threats after the racism incident

Patrice Evra admits that he had to refrain from hitting Luis Suárez after his racist incident.

The Manchester United defender accused the Uruguayan of directing racist abuse against him during a clash with Liverpool at Anfield in November 2011.

Suarez would be found guilty and banned for eight games a month later, but Evra’s immediate reaction was to hit his opponent.

Only the fear of being expelled himself and setting a bad example for all who saw him who prevented him from doing so.

He told the United official website: “The referee [Andre Marriner] came and asked what was going on with the two of us. He had seen my eyes change and asked me if I was okay. I told him he racially abused me and said, “Okay, we’ll talk after the game.” Keep playing and don’t do anything silly. ”

“I remember, during that game, I was talking to myself saying,‘ If you hit him now, people will see you as the bad guy. People will forget what he said. “I was talking to myself:” Don’t … do it … “I wasn’t focused on the game.

“I can do my job, I could have hit him in the field, but what would I have achieved? Maybe banned for two years? In front of all the children and all the people who watch the game. “

Evra was the subject of death threats after the Merseyside incident and security followed him for two months.

But he admits that it was the cost it cost his family, not himself, that was the most difficult part.

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