El Hadji Diouf spent two years at Anfield, apparently enough time for him to form a harsh assessment of Liverpool talisman Steven Gerrard, labelling him “egotistical.” No doubt with spittle flying from his crude mouth Diouf told L’Equipe, “Gerrard was jealous of me back then as I had the world at my feet. There's no one more selfish... he doesn't care about anyone else.”
“Gerrard would rather Liverpool lost and he scored. The old Liverpool guys can't stand him. I won't even start with [Jamie] Carragher.”
His comments come as a response to the Liverpoolcaptain’s autobiography, where Diouf’s commitment was called into question. “I wasn't Diouf's number one fan. Being around Melwood and Anfield I knew which players were hungry, which players had Liverpool at heart. Diouf was just interested in himself.”
“His attitude was all wrong. I felt he wasn't really arsed about putting his body on the line to get Liverpool back at the top.”
Diouf has burnt his bridges with pretty much every single club that he has played for, and is a hated figure amongst most football fans. Yet it’s hard to feel any sympathy for the player when he boasts a list of controversial incidents that wouldn’t be out of place if he were to appear on the ‘Jeremy Kyle’ show. His CV makes for appalling reading:
2002 - Diouf was accused of spitting at West Ham fans at Anfield when warming up as a sub for Liverpool.
13 March 2003 - while playing for Liverpool in the UEFA Cup quarter-final he spat at Celtic fans. The game was televised.
November 2004 – Spitting again. Whilst he was on loan at Bolton, Diouf was charged by the police for spitting at an 11-year-old Middlesbrough fan.
November 2004 – Yep you’ve guessed it, Diouf spat in the face of Portsmouth player Arjan de Zeeuw.
20 September 2009 - Diouf was questioned by police after allegations that he had made a racist slur to a ball boy during a match at Everton. Apparently he snarled, "fuck off, white boy.”
April 2010 - Diouf was arrested and charged with motoring offences.
8 January 2011 – During Blackburn’s game with QPR Diouf was accused of taunting Jamie Mackie as he lay on the floor with a broken leg. He apparently said “fuck you and fuck your leg” to the injured player. It caused QPR boss Neil Warnock to say the following, “For many years I have thought Diouf was the gutter type — I was going to call him a sewer rat but that might be insulting to sewer rats.” Diouf responded by calling Warnock a “big shit.”
2 March 2011 - Diouf was one of three Rangers players sent off in the Old Firm Derby with Celtic, after an altercation at the touchline with Neil Lennon and dissent to the referee at full time.
14 July 2011 - it was reported that Diouf had not joined Blackburn Rovers for a pre-season tour of Austria and that his whereabouts were unknown.
On 15 April 2012 - Diouf and five other men were arrested following a nightclub punch up in Manchester. One man was seriously injured and Diouf was bailed for a week.
Ironically Diouf now play for Leeds United as captain, under the management of the man that once referred to him as a “sewer rat.” Things tend to start well for Diouf, when moving to a new club, but it never lasts. Diouf isn’t a bad footballer but the problem with this repulsive man is simple. He desperately wants to be remembered, but when his football performances aren’t making the headlines he has to resort to uglier methods to create them. There is no doubt that Diouf will get his wish and be remembered… sadly for him it will always be as a repugnant, fouling, cheating, aggressive, abusive, spitting little scally.
image: © celticphotos
Simon Bunn
I possess a swashbuckling attitude towards football writing, aiming to pillage the most exciting and thought provoking topics in the business. Blessed with savvy up to date football knowledge, a dangerous obsession for Aston Villa FC, and a mind of alternative thinking, I welcome all readers aboard.
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