Former Man Utd Star Patrice Evra Receives Suspended Prison Sentence for Alleged Family Abandonment

Former Manchester United and France football star Patrice Evra has been given a suspended prison sentence for allegedly failing to pay nearly £1 million in alimony to his ex-wife.

Judges in the Paris suburb of Nanterre found that Evra, 43, had "abandoned" Sandra Evra, 42, and their two children between May 1, 2021, and September 28, 2023. Evra, who amassed wealth during his successful playing career, was accused of owing his ex-wife €969,000 (£814,000) in unpaid alimony.

"The sentence was 12 months in prison, suspended for two years," a source from the Hauts-de-Seine Correctional Court said. Evra's legal team immediately filed an appeal following Tuesday's verdict.

Additionally, Evra was ordered to pay €4,000 (£3,360) in moral damages and €2,000 (£1,700) in legal costs to his ex-wife. Nathalie Dubois, representing Ms. Evra, emphasized the importance of the decision in holding Evra accountable under the law.

However, Jérôme Boursican, Evra's lawyer, contested the allegations, stating that Evra had provided substantial financial support to his ex-wife, including housing and significant loans for her daily expenses. He noted that this financial support formed the basis of the ongoing dispute.

The Evras wed in 2007, but their marriage began to unravel around 2020, when Patrice Evra, known for his stints at Manchester United, Juventus, and Marseille, was photographed kissing Danish model Margaux Alexandra.

Since then, Evra and Margaux Alexandra have started a family together, reportedly residing in Dubai. Born in Dakar, Senegal, Evra moved to Paris during his childhood. In 2020, Sandra Evra publicly discussed the affair that ultimately led to their divorce after 25 years together.

She described their once-enduring love story as turning into a nightmare, lamenting how the man she once adored transformed into what she called a "bullying rat."

She said: “We had a wonderful family Christmas, an amazing holiday in the Maldives together and at New Year we kissed and cuddled together after spending a night as a family with our son and daughter.

“Two days later he left our home in Paris to go to work in London saying he would be back two weeks later. And I have never spoken to him since. He has tried to cut me out of my life.

“I saw photographs of him with another woman in London and then I got a call from my solicitor telling me that he wanted to divorce me. It was the worst day of my life. I was in shock, devastated, distraught.”

The couple first met at the age of 15 while attending school in Les Ulis, a Paris suburb known for producing several Premiership stars. Sandra recalls it as a moment of 'love at first sight'.

Sandra Evra decided to speak up following Mr Evra's interview in August 2020, where he claimed they only met during 'family moments' and were no longer living together under the same roof.