PATRICE EVRA reckons he “got lucky” after picking a fight with Chelsea’s “beast” of a groundsman in 2008.
Manchester United hero Evra and Stamford Bridge groundsman Bethell were both charged by the FA for scrapping after a Premier League clash between the two sides.
Evra was in the middle of his post-match warm-down when he and Bethell came to blows and had to be separated by stewards.
Tensions were at boiling point after Chelsea‘s 2-1 win courtesy of a controversial Michael Ballack penalty.
And Evra has since admitted that, had he kept a level head, he probably would have been wise to steer clear.
The Frenchman told The Telegraph: “I think I got lucky. I saw a picture of him. He was such a beast.
SPUR OF THE MOMENT
Tottenham axe ex-Champions League manager, 42, after just 32 days in job
TURBO
Win a stunning Volvo XC90 + £5,000 or £45,000 cash from just 18p with our code
“When I was with France a few weeks later, [Chelsea players] Nicolas Anelka and [Florent] Malouda said to me, ‘Patrice, we see this guy every day. He’s massive. Were you sure about that?’
“I said that I wasn’t sure, I just went straight for him.
“Scholesy said afterwards, ‘Any time I go to the pub, I’m going to take you with me.’”
Seven months later, after a lengthy FA investigation, Evra was slapped with a four-match ban and a £15,000 fine for improper conduct.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Chelsea were ordered to pay £25,000 for failing to ensure an employee conducted himself in an orderly fashion.
A regulatory commission ruled, after consulting CCTV footage from the Bridge, that Evra pushed Bethell with his chest and struck him on the side of the head.
He was also judged to have run back for another confrontation with Bethell after the initial incident had calmed down.
Evra admitted that then-United boss Sir Alex Ferguson came down hard on him for his role in the drama.
But the Red Devils put it behind them to lift the Premier League and the Champions League at the end of a memorable 2007-08 campaign.