Patrice Evra Dismisses Racism Lies

 

Patrice Evra has dismissed claims that racism influenced the decision to drop Karim Benzema from the France squad for Euro 2016, describing the accusations as lies that have no basis. Benzema has faced a backlash since an interview with Spanish media on Wednesday in which he said national coach Didier Deschamps had bowed to pressure from a racist part of France by keeping him out of the hosts' Euro 2016 squad.

Evra said “We are a country that loves controversies, it's magnificent. We like to talk about absolutely anything but we need to focus on what's happening on the pitch. Nothing that has been said has hurt me because these are lies that have no basis. It needs to stop. I understand that stuff like this sells, but this is ridiculous”.

Real Madrid striker Benzema is the leading scorer among all currently active French internationals with 27 goals from 81 caps but was sidelined in April due to his implication in the Mathieu Valbuena sex tape blackmail scandal.

His comments followed claims by former French international Eric Cantona that Deschamps was guilty of racial discrimination in his selection.