Evra reveals he had tight security amid death threats after Suarez row

Former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has revealed he needed security outside his home for two months after receiving death threats in the wake of the racism row with then Liverpool forward Luis Suarez in 2011.

Suarez was given an eightmatch ban by the Football Association after being found guilty of misconduct for using insulting words to Evra, which included a reference to the defender’s colour, at Anfield in October that year.

But Liverpool publicly backed their striker – for which Jamie Carragher apologised last year – and Evra said he faced a huge backlash which included threatening letters directed at him and his family.

“Manchesterunitedreceived so many threatening letters about me,” said Evra. “People said: ‘We’re in jail, we’re Liverpool fans. When we get out, we’re going to kill you and your family’. For two months, I had security everywhere I went. They were sleeping in front of my house. It was a tough time, but I wasn’t scared. My family were scared: my wife and brother, but I wasn’t.

“I couldn’t understand why people hated me so much. They didn’t know the truth.”

Evra, whose offer of a handshake before a match the following February was refused by Suarez, says he has forgiven the Uruguayan, and spoke to the now-barcelona player ahead of the 2015 Champions League final when playing for

Juventus. But recalling the original incident now, Evra revealed he had to control his emotions at the time.

“I remember, during that game, I was talking to myself saying: ‘If you punch him now, people will see you as the bad one, people will forget about what he said’,” Evra said.

“I was talking to myself: ‘Don’t do... do it...’ I wasn’t focused for the game.”