Patrice Evra: Former France star opens up about sexual abuse
Former Arsenal star and World Cup winner, Evra, took to his website to reveal his personal experience with sexual abuse inside the club.
Now aged 37 he made the revelations in a wide-ranging interview on his new website, and revealed how his life changed after being abused.
“I was a very good player.”
“I was considered as a key player in the France side for the World Cup, and the Champions League.
“My career began in January 1987 when I debuted with the first team.
“I didn’t play many minutes at Arsenal as I was a youth international and I had to be on my toes.
“I ended up missing the final of the Champions League, but I had been playing really well, and if I had played I think I would have played many more minutes.”
“I had been on the left wing of the defence and I was part of the defence as a left back.
“So I was mainly defending against the opponents who had a very good goalkeeper.
“It was during that World Cup, so I was with the France team for France, Spain, Belgium, and even Russia.
“I always kept a level head, and I was in the France team for the world cup.
“I was with the French team, but when I went out to play I didn’t have any idea that there was a sexual problem in the team.
“I didn’t know that there was any problem.
“In the dressing room, I didn’t know that there were girls who were sexually abused. I didn’t know who the girls were, I didn’t know that there was a problem.
“If you look at my life as a football player, I played in several positions and I don’t think that it mattered.
“I have always played as a left back, as a left winger, as a centre back, as a left-midfielder and