'They're picking a battle with the wrong guy' - Patrice Evra insists his conviction for using homophobic language doesn't represent him

Patrice Evra has reacted to his criminal conviction for making homophobic comments in 2019, insisting that the 'vulgar language' was normal while he was growing up.

The ex-France and Manchester United star filmed an expletive, homophobic rant towards Paris Saint-Germain in the wake of their Champions League defeat versus Manchester United in 2019.

After United's 3-1 victory, Evra reportedly went to dinner in Paris with a friend of Paul Pogba, who asked him to send a mocking video to a PSG fan.

The Snapchat video sparked outrage across France and prompted two anti-hate organisations - Mousse and Stop Homophobia to complain in March 2019.

Evra attended a police interview and last Thursday received a collection of fines in court. He picked up an initial fine of 1,000 (890) and was ordered to pay 2,000 (1,780) in compensation to the two anti-hate campaign groups.

'I'm hurt because this doesn't represent me,' Evra told The Times this week. 'Yes, I used vulgar language because when I was growing up this was normal. It makes me think I have so much to learn but I will keep learning.

'The police were laughing because they know I didn't use the words [to be offensive]. They say we don't have to pursue the case because we know who Patrice is.

'It was a private message, I used words that were used when I was a kid. It was the way I grew up.'

Despite his criminal conviction, Evra claimed that the complainants were 'picking a battle with the wrong guy'.

It was a private message, I used words that were used when I was a kid. It was the way I grew up. The problem is you have to adapt. It is a new world. I apologised straight away because I could see I offended people,' he continued.

'For four years they fight but they are picking the battle with the wrong guy if you see what I have done all my life, which is to accept everyone for who they are.

'It's painful because it's not who I am. I have to pay those two associations and I hope they are going to use the money for good things but it is not just about the money, it's about me being in this situation when I am not that person.

'I made a mistake. In my youth it was not a mistake and now it is. Since that incident I have never used those words.

'I have acknowledged the homophobia problem in the football world so it's really crazy for me to get this bad press for something I did four years ago.

'It was not because I meant it, I just used those words. I offended people, I apologised many times.

'I lost the case, and I paid them and I am fine with that. But I am not fine with people trying to describe an image I am not.'  

Following Thursday's conviction, the complainants' lawyer, Etienne Deshoulieres, released a statement saying: 'The homophobic remarks of a personality like Patrice Evra fuel hatred and violence against LGBT people, in particular in countries where homosexuality is criminally repressed, like in Senegal, the country where Patrice Evra comes from."