Pereira slams Evra over race row

Porto left-back Alvaro Pereira has chastised Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, accusing the Frenchman of not being proud of his skin colour.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned by the FA for eight matches for events centred around an incident involving the Frenchman during a Premier League match against Manchester United in October.

Evra complained to the referee that the striker had racially abused him and the governing body said that the Uruguayan had used words which ‘included a reference to Mr Evra’s colour’, judged to be a serious breach of the organisation’s rules.

Pereira has given his backing to his Uruguay team-mate and stated that United’s position on this matter is driven by sporting affairs.

“Evra had no code: what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch,” he told Radio Sport 890.

“Tomorrow, something like this can happen to a team-mate of his.”

“United tried to take advantage of this situation and prevent one of Liverpool’s best players from playing. That is sad.”

“It seems like it is a sin to say something on the pitch. If this happened in South America, they would have to suspend all players.”

“Evra has a complex. He is not proud to be black. If I am called ‘negro’, I start laughing. My team-mates call me ‘negro’ and in South America it can also be used in an affectionate way.

“It is obvious that you can use this word with good or bad intentions, but I always laugh. Evra must have some kind of problem about being black, or some inferiority complex. I do not.”

The 26-year-old added that if the international friendly between France and Uruguay, which is scheduled for the end of 2012, were to take place now, Evra ‘would have to wear armour’.