Patrice Evra gives a bizarre Covid-sceptical interview on French TV

Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has revealed himself as a Covid-sceptic in a controversial interview given to French TV on Thursday.

Evra, 40, said he believes that the coronavirus pandemic is ‘political’, ‘creates fear’ and suggested that American billionaire Bill Gates had a role in its emergence.

‘We speak too much about this Covid,’ Evra told BFM TV. ‘Even if you have a car accident they’re going to say died of Covid. For me, it is political. Because you want to manage people and govern, it creates fear. There you go.’

When asked to elaborate on his views, Evra added: ‘Because there is Bill Gates who already spoke about it in a conference in 2013… afterwards I’m not someone [who says] this thing was programmed but I prefer… if people spoke about it one day, because that I always speak frankly but the Covid, personally, me, it does not scare me.’ 

Manchester United icon Patrice Evra has announced himself as a Covid-sceptic on French TV

The Frenchman, who won 81 caps for his country between 2004 and 2016, has backtracked from a social media message he posted in April 2020, shortly after the pandemic first struck, in which he urged people to stay at home after he lost a family member to the virus.

It read: ‘Guys, everyone needs to stay safe and stay home! This is so important for everybody, no matter what colour, race or religion you are. Just be a good human being!

‘I would like to send a message to the people struggling right now. There are people who don’t understand the situation and I was one of them 20 days ago. Before that, I didn’t believe the news, I was walking outside. But when it eats a member of your family, I was like ‘calm down’ and I quarantined myself.

‘We need to be together to get out of this situation. I think this is a massive test, whether you believe in God or not. We are whole, together right now. First of all, please stay home, so we don’t spread the coronavirus. This a test, stay calm, stay positive. This is about being kind to each other and helping each other.’ 

On Wednesday, the defender who played 379 for United between 2006 and 2014, winning 10 major trophies, also made the news with revelations about homosexuality in football, saying he believes ‘at least two players per club’ are gay.

‘When I was in England, they brought someone to talk to the team about homosexuality,’ Evra explained. ‘Some of my colleagues said “it is against my religion, if there is a homosexual in this locker room, let him leave the club” and other comments. 

‘At that time, I said, “shut up”. I played with players who were gay. Face to face, they opened up with me because they are afraid to speak otherwise. 

‘There are at least two players per club who are gay. But in the world of football, if you say so, it’s over.’ 

Evra also played with distinction for Monaco and Juventus in a glittering career which ended at West Ham in 2018.