The explosive confessions of Patrice Evra on TF1 in Téléfoot, where he made strong and controversial statements about various football personalities, including Bixente Lizarazu, Luis Fernandez, and Pierre Ménès, have stirred up significant controversy and reactions. Evra’s remarks risk creating a new crisis for the French football team just days before crucial playoff matches for the next football World Cup against Ukraine.
Here are some key points from Evra’s charges and the reactions:
Charges by Patrice Evra:
- Accusations against Bixente Lizarazu: Evra claimed that Lizarazu did not shake his hand on the day of his first selection and questioned Lizarazu’s achievements, stating that he has never been named the best defender in the world.
- Accusations against Luis Fernandez: Evra criticized Fernandez, alleging that when he showed Fernandez around Old Trafford in 2008, Fernandez acted like he was at Euro Disney. He questioned Fernandez’s contributions when given the keys to PSG.
- Response to critiques on his image: Evra defended his image, stating that even if someone like Rama Yade played left-back, people would say she is better, and he urged others to stop lying about him.
Reactions from Bixente Lizarazu: Lizarazu responded by expressing his incomprehension and disappointment at Evra’s comments. He denied the reported incident concerning Evra at the start of his career. Lizarazu emphasized that Evra manages his image on his own, and the timing of the remarks, just before the playoffs, is inappropriate.
Reactions from Pierre Ménès: Pierre Ménès thanked TF1 and the producer of Téléfoot for giving him a heads-up about the interview. He criticized the timing of Evra’s remarks, calling it disastrous for him and the French team. Ménès stated that he would judge Evra solely on his on-field performances and expressed regret about the attitude of the program host, Christian Jeanpierre.
Reactions from Rolland Courbis: Rolland Courbis, who was mentioned by Evra, responded by defending his critiques of Evra’s footballing abilities. He claimed that Evra needed to realize how fortunate he is to have become a millionaire with what Courbis perceived as limited talent.
These events add a layer of tension and controversy to the French football scene, with potential implications for team dynamics and public perception, especially ahead of crucial matches.
