Patrice Evra has revealed that he received death threats as a result of his racism allegations against Luis Suarez, but insists that he doesn't "hate" the striker over the incident.
The former Manchester United defender, who recently announced his retirement from football, accused the striker of repeatedly calling him "negro" during a game between the Red Devils and Liverpool at Anfield in 2011.
The allegations against the Uruguayan, which coincided with a similar controversy involving John Terry and Anton Ferdinand, saw the Frenchman take centre stage in a period of hostility between the two clubs.
And Evra, who won five league titles and a Champions League trophy during his nine years at Old Trafford, said that the episode even resulted in him receiving threats against his life.
"I received a lot of letters of death," Evra said in an interview with the Mail on Sunday .
"For months, I had a security car parked outside my house in Alderley Edge 24 hours a day. It wasn't easy for my family but I grew up on tough streets in Les Ulis so for me it was like something normal.
"But maybe for another person, it was crazy. Even my brother was saying "Be careful" when we were out in the car.
"I don't know if Suarez is a racist. I don't know his family. I don't know his background. But racism is so big for so many years and that day, there was racist abuse.
"So when we went to the hearing, they listened to me because I said I didn't want them to punish him and I don't know him close enough to say he is racist but he used that racist word."
The incident resulted in the former Liverpool striker, who joined Barcelona in 2014, receiving a £40,000 fine and an eight-match ban.
He later admitted using the word but claimed it wasn't done in a racist context.
It was hoped that Suarez's punishment would bring the incident to a close, but it re-emerged when the Uruguayan refused to shake Evra's hand when the two sides met at Old Trafford.
Despite feeling anger towards Suarez at the time, Evra insisted that he did not hold a grudge against the striker and that the incident did not stop him from recognising his abilities on the pitch.
"I don't hate him," Evra continued. "I never hated him.
"I wanted to punch him at the time but for me to hate someone is impossible. I don't have hate in my heart. I can react but hate is a strong word for me.
"When I was asked to pick a team of my best players, I named Suarez as one of my XI. He was the best striker at that time.
"Why should I not recognise his talent even if he isn't a good person? I don't even know if he is a good person.
"We had one episode. At that time, I wouldn't have gone on holiday with him but I can't hate him."
