Former Liverpool striker El-Hadji Diouf: 'Gerrard has never liked black people'
With the impending release of the Steven Gerrard autobiography "My Story," ex-Liverpool attacker El-Hadji Diouf has joined manager Rafa Benitez in questioning several of the excerpts made available prior to the book's release.
Diouf has taken his criticism to the next level, however, making some potentially serious claims of his own.
The Senegalese striker, who scored six goals for the Reds in 55 appearances, has taken umbrage with Gerrard for accusing Diouf of having "no real interest in football" and "caring nothing for Liverpool," according to his new book.
An excerpt from the autobiography states, "A few people have since asked me if I saw any comparison between Diouf and Mario Balotelli - and I’ve always said no.
"I've got respect for Balotelli; I've got none for Diouf.
"I don't really want to waste time thinking about El Hadji Diouf but it's worth highlighting his wasted seasons at Liverpool as an example of how it can all go wrong."
In light of these comments, the 34-year-old, 69-time capped Senegalese international has snapped-back with some vitriolic allegations of his own.
"We all saw how he made life difficult for Mario Balotelli at Liverpool. I warned him. Liverpool isn’t a team that accepts black people unless they are English," Diouf told a Senegalese radio program.
"It's common knowledge. Gerrard has never liked black people. When I was at Liverpool, I showed him I was black, that I wasn't English, but that I'm no pushover.
"All the time I was there, he never dared looked me in the eye," Diouf continued.
Never far from controversy, most notably an incident during a 2003 UEFA Cup tie with Celtic when Diouf spit on a supporter of the Scottish giants that resulted in a two-match ban and fine of two weeks wages, the ex-Bolton striker claims that Gerrard's jealousy was an impediment to their relationship.
"Gerrard is just jealous. What I have done in football, he did not. When I came to Liverpool, I came up with the status of boss and he lives there.
"I am respected in world football, the greatest football experts have appointed me among the seven best players in the World Cup, the top 100 players of the century.
"Everywhere I go out of my country, they worship me. Wherever he goes outside his city of Liverpool, he will be insulted."
Diouf currently plies his trade with legendary Malaysian Premier League outfit Sabah.
Representatives from both camps have yet to comment on the allegations made by Diouf.