Five-year Senegal ban for Diouf

The Senegal FA have hit Blackburn Rovers forward El Hadji Diouf with a five-year international ban.

The former national captain was suspended for discrediting Senegalese officials and ignoring a summons to appear at a disciplinary hearing.

The 30-year-old was unlikely to represent his country again – regardless of the ban – as he announced his retirement from international football in 2007 and again in 2009.

He is, however, allowed to appeal the decision.

A Senegal FA statement read: “The Disciplinary Committee, after deliberation, inflicted on professional footballer El Hadj Diouf Ousseynou a five-year suspension from all football activities with effect from the date of notification of this decision.”

Diouf had described Senegalese football officials as ‘corrupt people and destroyers of the country’s football.’

Controversy is no stranger to the former Liverpool and Bolton striker. Diouf has been disciplined on multiple occasions for spitting at fans and players during games, and was also condemned for taunting Queens Park Rangers player Jamie Mackie as he lay with a broken his leg in an FA Cup clash earlier this year.

Diouf did not join his Blackburn team-mates on a pre-season tour of Austria, with manager Steve Kean later saying the controversial player is likely to leave the club.

Diouf is a two-time winner of the African Footballer of the Year award.