Marseille star Patrice Evra sent off for KICKING fan in the head before Europa League tie vs Vitoria de Guimaraes
* Patrice Evra shown red card by referee after confronting a fan during warm up
* The Marseille defender appeared to kick out at a fan after being confronted
* Evra becomes first player in the Europa League to be sent off before the game
* He was later seen taking selfies with young fans in the stands as his side lost 1-0
Marseille defender Patrice Evra was sent off before his side's Europa League tie against Vitoria had even started after kicking out at an angry fan during the team's warm-up.
The former Manchester United star was preparing for his side's group stage tie with team-mates when they were confronted pitch-side the travelling contingent.
Evra sparked the confrontation after reacting to jeers from the away end, inspiring dozens of supporters to leap over the barriers and confront him face-to-face. From there, the situation deteriorated quickly.
Patrice Evra kicked a Marseille fan in the head after being confronted before the game
Evra appeared to spark the confrontation after calling fans out and throwing a punch
Evra can be seen executing a Kung-Fu style kick on the Marseille fan, leading to his red card. Marseille players tried but failed to separate Evra from the fans as he sneaked a way through
Footage shows Evra vaulting advertising hoardings and demanding that the fans join him pitch-side. As one angry fan sprinted towards him, the defender instinctively put out his fist and landed a punch on the aggressor's face.
Evra was quickly pulled away by his team-mates but sneaked around the group of players and executed a kung-fu style kick on an unsuspecting supporter. He was immediately sent off by match official Tamas Bognar.
The dust-up was reminiscent of the 1995 Eric Cantona incident. Manchester United’s Cantona, sent off at Selhurst Park, launched himself at a Crystal Palace fan on his way to the dressing room.
Evra is escorted from the pitch after appearing to kick out at a Marseille fan
Evra was due to be on the bench for the game meaning Marseille started with 11 men, but his red card left García with just six substitutes to choose from.
Speaking about the incident after the game, Marseille manager Rudi Garcia said: 'We'll see what happened. As far as I'm concerned, I have information, but I did not see anything because I was in the dressing room.
'On the other hand, I can say two things: Patrice, given his experience, must not respond to provocations. What must also be said is that the supporter in question is not a supporter of OM.
'When we are, we do not insult one of his players. But once again, Pat has experience and he should not have reacted. I found myself with one less solution (from the bench).'
Minutes after the incident, Evra was seen in the stands of the stadium taking pictures with young fans, capping a rather strange evening for the former France international.
It is the first time in Europa League history, since it's rebranding in 2009, that a player has been sent off before the start of a match.
Marseille went on to lose the game 1-0 but remain in second place in their group with six points, two behind Red Bull Salzburg but two ahead of both Vitoria and Konyaspor with two matchdays remaining.
It is not Evra’s first scuffle. In 2008 he was banned for four games after clashing with a Chelsea groundsman.
The 36-year-old has already caused controversy off the field this week after filming a disturbing video of himself licking a fake machete while covered in fake blood and posting it on Instagram.
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