Your Verdict: Diouf spitting shame

El-Hadji Diouf is back doing what he appears to do best - spitting on people. Not content with covering a variety of fans with spittle he has now targeted his fellow professionals.

On Sunday the Bolton Wanderers forward spat in the face of Portsmouth skipper Arjen De Zeeuw from pointblank range, and while the affable Dutchman did not wish take the matter any further than to admit it happened, his club and the FA have taken a different view.

Bolton instantly fined Diouf two weeks' wages and forced the Senegal international to make a public apology. The FA have charged him with improper conduct and await a response from the 23-year-old before dishing out their punishment.

But what do you think Diouf's punishment should be?

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Your Verdict:

Diouf's inexcusable action, of spitting in an opponents face, is totally unacceptable and he should be made an example of by the FA. They should hang him out to dry.

In his apology, although I'm sure he never had any input, he says these things happen in the heat of the moment. What heat of the moment? De Zeeuw was not pushing/fouling Diouf. The duo were just jogging back into play, as happens umpteen times in every match, and Diouf just gobbed in his face.

I think De Zeeuw would have been fully justified in knocking the petulant little striker spark out.

Diouf has done this before, to both fans and players, and he should be given a ban large enough to make him think twice in future?.if indeed he has the capacity to think.
Frank Essien

Hadji Diouf is a pathological spitter, he should be severely punished. He should be taken to the hospital for a thorough medical check up.
Rev Sola Adetunji, Nigeria

Diouf is uncontrollable on and off the pitch. It seems that he hasn't learnt from his past punishment. Spitting on someone's face is the ultimate insult.

In our part of the world, spitting in public is itself a punishable offence let alone on someone's face! I personally feel he should be punished with a sentence comparable with that of assault.

Like what Alan Shearer said: 'This act can provoke retaliation from the victim which can result in a five or six match ban.'
Anon

I think the F.A. should do something about Gordon Taylor and his support for the Bolton player over this spitting incident. I wonder if he'd change his tune if I gobbed in his face.
Steve Williams

I guess his agent wrote his apology note huh? How much more are we going to take from these absolute useless overpaid mercenaries? Imagine Michael Owen going around spitting in Spanish players' faces....No, it would not happen.
S.Clements

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Kewell the passenger...

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I have a lot of frustration towards Harry Kewell. Having said that, I feel that I must stick up for him as I think that the 1 in 10 rating The Insider gave him in your match report was quite unjustified. He should have got at least a 5.

In order to rationalise that, I propose to you that had Harry Kewell not been on the pitch, Liverpool would not have scored the two goals that they scored on Sunday as he had a DIRECT influence on both of them.
Joel

Your comments on Harry Kewell are hardly surprising. I watched him play against the Solomon Islands in Sydney a few weeks ago. The match was a serious one, not a friendly. The result confirmed Australia's participation in next year's Confederation Cup in Germany.

Harry was a pale shadow of the Kewell of a couple of years ago. His most notable 'contribution' was to completely miss the target with an unchallenged header from about 10 metres, dead in front of goal. Compared to the obvious desire and class of most of Australia's players on that night (the standouts were Brett Emerton. Josip Skoko (Genclerbili, Turkey) and Archie Thompson (Lierse, Belgium)). Ahmad Elrich, one of our U/23s who plays in South Korea, shone in comparison to Kewell.

In the Confederation Cup, we're drawn to play Germany, Argentina and Tunisia. We'll need a real first XI on the park for those matches. Sad to say, on his current form Harry doesn't deserve a Liverpool shirt, let alone an Australian one. Rob Charlton, Australia

The majority of Liverpool fans are frustrated at Kewell, but Sunday was one of his most committed performances in our shirt. To describe the match as follows: 'This Liverpool performance was a nine out of ten effort in every sense of the word and when you consider they were effectively doing it all with 10 men, it was even more creditable,' is a disgrace.

Kewell's work rate kept Lauren on the back foot for the majority of the game and he was involved in both our goals. In fact it was Kewell's brave challenge that prevented Arsenal clearing the ball properly that led to Mellor's goal.

Coming in 50 yards off your wing and putting your body on the line is hardly the action of a disinterested player.
Limiescouse

I agree with the assessment of Kewell.

If a player is playing below par for as long as Kewell has been he would lose his place in any other team. Unless Liverpool has to play Kewell contractually, Benitez has to wake up from his fantasy. A period on the bench, or even off it altogether might well be of greater help to Kewell. I know it will certainly help Pool :-).

If Kewell cannot find his form after that, he should be sold off. Otherwise, we will lose Gerrard, and my heart will be broken forever. Many of us here in Singapore are afraid that Gerrard will leave us. Please, Benitez, do not be stubborn.
Kia Teck

I don't know which game you were watching but Harry Kewell played a very effective game. If you can say that Pongolle was any better (which you must be) then you must be on some sort of drug.

Harry needs a good run in the side without any injury and you will see him come back.
Anon

Couldn't agree with you more about Harry Kewell. Unbelievable waste of talent. I can deal with the lack of confidence, but not the lack of effort and his dawdling on the ball for about five hours before he decides he's ready to pass.

On Madrid requiring a holding midfielder...Steven Gerrard isn't a holding midfielder as was emphasized on Sunday where Benitez is playing him in his most threatening position, behind the striker.
Omar

Much has been said about Harry Kewell's contribution to the team lately. Since he joined the club, Kewell has failed to produce the magic he is known for.

However, I watched the game against Liverpool and I just thought though he was not the best player, he played a part in all Liverpool goals. I think that is enough to give him at least 5 out of 10 marks.

He failed to control some of the balls passed to him but he was the source of the goals and in football, a goal is the objective of the two teams entering a pitch to win a football match.
Ippy

Perhaps this is justice at last! When you consider what Leeds United got out of Robbie Fowler, it's only fair that Liverpool get the same out of Harry Kewell.
Ralph Whitney

Admittedly Kewell's performances of late have been quite poor and hard to understand from a once sensational player. However, your article smacks of 'kick an Aussie while he's down' because you English don't get much opportunity to do that in the sporting world.

Only a couple of years ago Gerrard himself went through a patch of equally poor form (debatable - ed) but I don't remember anyone saying he was a money grabbing Englishman who was probably in the pub too often, funny that.
Anthony Sinclair

If I compare Kewell with a car, it's like buying a Ferrari with a Proton engine. I won't even think of trading-in the car. I just sell it for scrap metal. Total junk.
Roger, Malaysia

Although Harry Kewell hasn't been on fire recently, I did see him run himself into the ground (literally with the second Liverpool goal by Mellor) and while he's not been scoring, his contribution in the absence of the main strikers is laudable.

I think The Insider was unfairly critical without giving any recognition to his other contributions, I believe he was involved in the build up to both goals.
Gary

So typical of your website. Slam a player when he is down - especially a Liverpool one. Harry Kewell - keep going son and make these experts eat their words. Real LFC fans are behind you mate. YNWA.
Wayne, Australia

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Finally, just who should scoop FIFA's player of the year award?...

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Without doubt, the best player in the world right now is none other than Ronaldinho. And it is immaterial of the criteria used to evaluate present form.

Is it deft touches, football artistry, goal scoring, motivation, and a charming smile in good and bad times on the pitch? He has been instrumental, together with Africa's best player at the moment, Samuel Eto'o, to Barca's success this year.

Henry is not in his best form this year. Shevy is an emerging giant. Pls give it to the smiling 'Ronnie'.
Michael A. Adeyanju, Nigeria

Well, as always, if it's personal awards one is after, it doesn't pay to play for small teams...especially small teams that accomplish great things.

I present to you the most important, influential and, without a doubt, the greatest player of the year...Deco. He was the key to Porto's and Portugal's great success over the past year.

Henry - France eliminated second round at euro/arsenal PL champs, CL 1/4 finals.

Ronaldinho - Brazil SA champs (did he play in finals?!)/ Barca second place in Spain.

Shevchenko - Ukraine did not qualify for Euro/Milan CL 1/4 final, first in Italy.

Deco - Portugal second palce at Euro/Porto CL champions, Portuguese champions.

Conclusion: FIFA is only interested in aiding the teams that sell more magazines. Miguel Rocha

Having just read Eriksson's comments that European Player of the Year Awards will likely be Henry, Ronaldinho or Deco I was astounded the Van Nistlerooy was not mentioned. Is there some reason that he is not in the running?

He is the most lethal striker in the Champions League. What more evidence do people need? History will likely go on to prove he will be possibly one of the most prolific centre forwards of all time. I'm sure most pundits and experts will agree that this is hardly an emotive statement.
Steve, Australia

My vote is for Ronaldinho. He has changed Berca into a full force within a short period.
Dr. Adango Miadonye

Since the above award is an international award ,the deserving reciepient should be one who has made an impact on international football as well. Given the above selection criterion, Thierry Henry does not measure up.

He is only excellent at club level. To drive the point home, at the recent European Championships he was, as expected, a shadow of himself.

Please remember international awards are for sportsmen and women who excel internationally, and not only at club level. Kindly consider Thierry for this particular award - the English footballer of the year.

FIFA's choice should be between Ronaldinho and Shevchenko.
WRN

Many are picking Shevchenko to win the Golden Ball. But in all honesty. I can't see it. He is not a play maker. He is not the best finisher. He receives amazing passes and crosses from the likes of Kaka and Cafu. When the ball lands right at your feet in front of the goal you have to be pretty bad to miss.

Crespo showed that with a great team feeding you the ball you can score goals, as he demonstrated on day five of the Champions League with two goals. Shevchenko is not special.

My vote goes to Ronaldinho. A truly gifted playmaker and goal scorer.
George MacDonald

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