Evra: “In every football team there are at least two gays, but if you say so you’re done”

Patrice Evra today he is forty, three years ago he stopped being a professional footballer. Hers has been a beautiful career. After starting in Marsala and then moving to Monza, the French defender wore the prestigious jerseys of Nice, Monaco, Manchester United, Olympique Marseille and West Ham. In all, thirty years of football, during which he has seen and understood many things.

«I have decided to witness to encourage boys and girls who are victims of violence not to close themselves in silence, “he said in a meeting with readers of the newspaper The Parisian. Among the various topics touched upon (and touching) in his autobiography, there is the one concerning gay footballers.

“In football everything is closed,” admits the French champion, “if you say you are gay you are dead. I remember once a person came to talk to the team about homosexuality. Some of my comrades said it was against their religion and that if they found a gay man in the locker room they would ask the club to kick him out. “

But Evra knows for a fact that many footballers are homosexuals. «There are at least two gays per team», he says with conviction, «but they can’t say otherwise they are finished. I am sure of this why some companions I have had during my long career have opened up with me in private, but they are afraid to do it publicly ».

In his book, Patrice Evra also finds the courage to tell the world what happened to him at the age of thirteen. «I say it, I was sexually assaulted. I kept it all inside too long, then one night I was watching a TV show and I burst into tears. My wife was there and I decided to tell her everything ».

Evra hopes her book will help those who are suffering from violence. «We must always speak up, and denounce whoever commits these acts, even if it is family members who do so. This is the only way to get out of the trauma ».

There are very few cases of coming out in professional men’s football. The most recent is that of the Australian Josh Cavallo. Among those who are active, even if not in the major leagues, is the American Collin Martin, in 2018. There was Robbie Rogers also in the USA, in 2013. The German midfielder former Lazio, Thomas Hitzlsperger, has done one year after the retirement. There is the case of the attacker Justin Fashanu, who committed suicide. There is the Swede Anton Hysén. Those who come out or stop playing or are in minor leagues.

The football that matters is not ready, but if no one talks, when will it ever be? This is why Cavallo’s coming out is important and above all the immediate support from his club in Adelaide, the Australian Football Association and Sydney Fc. The messages from Europe weigh even more: those of Claudio Marchisio, the Atlético Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann and the Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué: “The world of football is still far behind and you are helping us to advance it.”

In Europe we see the greatest resistance, on the part of some players. A few months ago Philipp Lahm, former captain of the German national team, the one who won the 2014 World Cup, wrote a book, The game. Die Welt des Fussbals, which tells the world of football seen from within. In this he suggests that footballers should not claim to be homosexual. «The ability to accept is still lacking, in the world of football and in society in general. If someone had in mind to do so and were to ask me for advice, I would suggest that they consult with a trusted person and honestly come to terms with himself, on what are the real reasons for this step “. The advice would be never to talk about it with teammates. “He could not count on the same maturity in his opponents or on the fields, he would have to endure insults and defamations.”