Former Manchester United star Patrick Evra has been sentenced to a 12-month suspended prison term by French courts, following reports of his failure to pay nearly £1 million in alimony to his ex-wife, Sandra Evra.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Evra has been ordered to pay €4,000 for moral damages and €2,000 in legal costs. The court's decision stems from allegations that Evra "abandoned" his wife and their two children from May 2021 to September 2023.
Reacting to the reports, Evra posted a video on social media showing himself humorously dancing in a caged basketball court with handcuffs. He captioned the video: “Let me shutdown this rubbish news: look how much I enjoyed myself in prison,” accompanied by three laughing emojis.
Evra's legal team has appealed the verdict, disputing the court's findings. Nathalie Dubois, representing Sandra Evra, expressed hope that the decision would make Evra realize he is not above the law, while Jérôme Boursican, Evra's lawyer, argued that Evra had provided substantial support to his ex-wife and disputed her refusal to return a large sum lent to her.
Patrick Evra, who began his career in France and gained fame with Monaco, joined Old Trafford in 2006. During his tenure at Manchester United, he made 379 appearances, winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups, and a Champions League trophy before departing in 2014.