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Former Manchester United player Patrice Evra was at the centre of a vicious bust up with his own fans before a European match.

In shocking footage, Marseille players appeared to clash with their own supporters ahead of the Europa League match at Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal.

After taking abuse from his own fans for 30 minutes before the game even kicked off, things came to a head after the warm up.

The players went over to the visiting fans - who had also let off flares - and angry full-back Evra aimed a karate kick at one of them.

(Image: AFP)

A close up picture shows Evra aim the high kick at a supporter - in a scene much like the famous incident where fellow Frenchman Eric Cantona attacked a Crystal Palace fan.

After appearing to strike the fan in the head, Evra was then was ushered away by a team-mate.

Evra was then sent off before the game even began and forced into the home stand to watch the match.

As he was one of the substitutes the Ligue Un side's boss Rudi Garcia could only call on six from the bench for the match.

Amazingly the Frenchman was later seen posing for selfies with young fans in the stand.

(Image: karimattab1/Twitter) (Image: karimattab1/Twitter) (Image: karimattab1/Twitter)

Marseille boss Rudi Garcia reveals what caused Patrice Evra to kick supporter before Europa League clash

According to tweets from journalists at the match, Evra had been victim of insults from the Marseille supporters before the flashpoint.

Fans are apparently unhappy with the Frenchman's performances this season and even broke through the barriers at the Estadio D Afonso Henriques to confront him.

Marseille boss Garcia revealed afterwards Evra had reacted to taunts from the fans, but still criticised his actions.

"Pat has experience and he must not react, it's obvious," Garcia was quoted by L'Equipe as telling BeIN Sports.

"Patrice is a more than experienced player and we cannot respond to insults so low and so incredible because they come from one of our supporters."

On the fan, Garcia said: "He is not a supporter of OM, because you cannot insult your own players, you have to be behind everyone."

Some on Twitter came out in support of Evra, with one user tweeting: "Evra had every right to do what he did. he was getting verbal abuse for 30 minutes before kick off. He's going to erupt."

(Image: AFP) (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Evra is the first player ever to be sent off before a Europa League match since the rebranding in 2009.

Uefa's game log confirmed: "The Marseille substitute has been shown a red card following an incident with the crowd."

Marseille said after the game that Evra had been sent off over "an altercation with supporters during the warm-up", although it did not specifically mention the kick.

The club and Evra are likely to face a big fine by Uefa while the full-back faces an automatic three-match ban for the red card.

However he will certainly be hit by a longer suspension for the show of aggression.

Marseille went on to lose the game 1-0 with Christopher Hurtado scoring the only goal after 80 minutes. Marseille also had Boubacar Kamara sent off.

(Image: Getty Images)

Evra who won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during an eight-year spell with United, joined Marseille from Juventus in January.

Just a few days ago the extroverted Evra posted a Halloween video, as he wished his instagram followers a happy fright night.

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In the video a shirtless Evra was seen licking blood off a knife with his now famous social media catchphrase: "I love this game".

Ironically such posts are said to be part of the reason why Marseille fans have turned on him.

But Evra is no stranger to controversy. He was captain of the Les Bleus side that led a revolt before the 2010 World Cup when coach Raymond Domenech left out Nicolas Anelka.

He was then involved in a racist abuse claim with Liverpool's Luis Suarez in 2015 which saw the striker charged over using "insulting words with a reference to Mr Evra's colour".