Patrice Evra leaves Marseille after Uefa ban until June for kicking fan

Marseille have terminated Patrice Evra’s contract by mutual consent after the defender aimed a kick at one of the club’s own fans this month. The Ligue 1 side announced on Friday afternoon that they had parted company with the 36-year-old, shortly after Uefa announced he had been banned from all European club matches for seven months.

Evra has also been fined €10,000 for his actions, for which he was sent off before Marseille’s Europa League game at Vitória de Guimarães.

A club statement said: “By mutual agreement Olympique de Marseille and Patrice Evra decided to end their collaboration. The player’s contract is officially terminated with immediate effect.

“In such a context, the conditions were no longer met for Patrice Evra to accomplish his mission serenely and above all effectively. Both parties agreed and decided to discontinue their collaboration by mutual agreement. This incident also highlighted the unacceptable attitude of a small number of people who uttered insults and verbal threats. Such behaviours, which expose the club to sanctions, have no place in the stands of a football stadium and at Olympique de Marseille in particular, where love for his team and support for his players make the Marseille public the best 12th man in France.”

Jacques-Henri Eyraud, the Marseille club president, added: “Today there is sadness. For Patrice Evra first, who obviously understood all the consequences of his action and who will no longer be able to exercise his passion at Olympique de Marseille. For Marseille fans then, who are stigmatised because of the irresponsible behaviour of a handful of them. For the institution finally, whose reputation is tainted. Despite this incident, we are more than ever determined to demonstrate on and off the field that we are driven by the highest individual and collective demands.”

Evra, who won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during an eight-year spell with Manchester United, joined Marseille from Juventus in January but struggled to hold down a first-team place. The left-back had not been sent off during a match since 2005, when he was dismissed during Monaco’s league match against Auxerre.