No excuse. Absolutely unacceptable. I wonder what was said or done while he was in the satnds though. Quite a shame as it was otherwise a hard fought but clean battle between sides with mutual respect.
Liverpool did not wait for UEFA. The report from the Guardian below states that he's been fined the maximum allowable two weeks wages and the funds will be donated to a charity that will be worked out with Celtic. Just one more reason why it's easy to be proud to be a LFC supporter. Arsene Wanker would have said he didn't see it. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,914361,00.html
It's fantastic that Houllier and the club were so quick to comment and punish Diouf for this. This was a tremendous night for football, LFC and Celtic and Diouf completely brought it down a couple of notches. I know that I've been quick to criticise Diouf in the past, but I've think he's been getting better and better in the last month or two. Still, I think he should sit out a few matches after this. LFC and Celtic have a tremendous relationship and his actions were despicable.
Obviouly a good move by Houllier to apologize on Diouf's behalf and to fine him the maximum allowable. I would imagine UEFA will suspend him for at least a couple of matches, most likely three. We should not appeal this, Diouf himself should probably make a public apology and then we can move on. It is a shame as he has been really coming into form and made the right midfield/wing position his own. I would think the suspension would only be applicable in European matches and shouldn't affect his domestic selection. Whatever happens GH shouldn't pick him for the home leg against Celtic.
Agreed. It will be interesting to see what happens. UEFA will most likely not come to a decision by Thursday, which will leave it entirely up to Houllier.
spitting @ glaswegians! i think the episode was disgusting but if i'd had some hairy arsed Jock taking the p*ss out of me, I'd be reasonably vexed! Seriously, spitting is a vile habit and i had the same reaction to last nights incident as I did to Dugarry's phlegm attack on Joey Gudjohnsonn at Villa Park on Black Monday. UP THE VILLA
Now that's a healthy mature attitude! We all agree he was wrong, the behavior intolerable but please no incitement to riot.
[sarcasm]Great contribution to the discussion.[/sarcasm] He made a mistake, no doubt about that. Nobody is denying that, excusing that, or minimizing that. But to call him names and to suggest letting the fans have at him when we don't know what some fan(s) might have said to him, is an ill-advised, emotional knee-jerk reaction just like Diouf's reaction was. If all the facts were known, who knows . . . maybe we'd understand why Diouf might have wanted to have a go at some fan(s). But the stewards shouldn't have allowed that anymore than they should have allowed the fans to get at Diouf. What Diouf did was wrong and he deserves punishment. No one should be ambigious about that, no matter what some fan(s) said or did to him. Likewise, if some fan(s) did say or do something unacceptable and dispicable to incite Diouf, then they shoud have to face the music just the same as Diouf and be punished.
Diouf will play on the weekend at Spurs: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N139417030314-1630.htm UEFA expected to rule on the case (i.e., dole out some sort of ban, I'm guessing) before the return leg next Thursday: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=260734&cc=5739 A really very regrettable incident—but one that the player and club appear to be handling as well as can be expected. I'm very curious as to the nature of the provocation that set-off Diouf. ----
nice contradictory post there, nothing excuses spitting into a crowd except maybe a bit of abuse from fans eh? im sure you'd change yer tune quick enough on the recieving end
Jesus...every Liverpool supporter in here is condemning him and you still find a way to start an argument...
I think all he's saying is that all parties who acted badly should be held to account for their actions. I don't see what's contradictory--or even controversial--about that. ----
Ok, apologies for being argumentative, but that sort of thing makes me sick, there were kids sitting in that area of the crowd
Re-read my post. I never said that anything could make what Diouf did excusable. I thought I went out of my way to clarify that. I merely suggested the possibility that he might not be the only one deserving rebuke and punishment if all the facts could be known. I don't think there's any contradiction in that. Apology accepted. You're right. Spitting into the crowd is dispicable, whether there were kids there or not. I sincerely hope that no fans did or said anything inappropriate to provacate Diouf and that there was a misunderstanding on Diouf's part and that Diouf will learn from this mistake and grow and mature as a result. And I hope that if, however, it is learned that some fan(s) did in fact do or say something inappropriate and dispicable, that you will be equally sickened, especially since kids were present.
that's the problem with liverpool these days. No Fu$$ing bottle. the manager,the players and the fans..damn you think man utd fans turned on Eric when he kicked that stupid palace supporter? yeah he was an Idol for the scum,but untill you hear the facts leave diouf alone he's going to pay for it anyway. supporters are nothing more than hypocrites sometimes, don't point your finger when you've never been in such a situation. Besides he had a good game and is showing some passion something our graveyard team is in dire need of.