Former Manchester United and France defender Patrice Evra has found himself in a legal battle after being sentenced to 12 months in prison with a suspended probation for owing nearly €1 million in unpaid alimony to his wife, Sandra Evra. The court found him guilty of family neglect for leaving his wife to be with his current partner, despite their separation in 2020 and pending divorce proceedings. The couple shares two children together.
In addition to the unpaid alimony, Evra has been ordered to cover his wife’s legal fees and pay €4,000 in “moral damages.” His prison sentence is suspended for two years, and he has decided to appeal the court’s decision along with his legal team.
Throughout his playing career, which spanned two decades, Evra made 379 appearances for Manchester United from 2005 to 2014. He played a crucial role in the team’s 2007/08 Premier League and UEFA Champions League double-winning season and has won seven league titles during his time at Manchester United and Juventus.
Following his retirement, Evra transitioned into a pundit role for ITV and Amazon, earned coaching badges at Manchester United, and invested in the purchase of Portuguese club CF Estrela da Amadora with a group of investors. However, this legal issue is not the first time Evra has faced trouble in the French courts. In 2023, he was fined for making homophobic remarks during an altercation at the Parc de Princes after Manchester United’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League. Despite this incident, Evra has expressed his support for LGBTQ+ rights in football and has contributed to anti-hate campaigns as part of the court-ordered compensation.
It is evident that Patrice Evra’s legal troubles have had a significant impact on his personal and professional life. His appeal against the court’s decision will determine the next steps in this ongoing legal saga.