Banned Diouf gets early leave of absence
YEP 3/5/13
By Phil Hay
El-Hadji Diouf will be absent from Vicarage Road tomorrow after receiving permission from Leeds United to travel to Senegal and start his summer break early.
Diouf, who begins a two-match ban this weekend following his controversial dismissal against Brighton last Saturday, is flying out of England with an order from Brian McDermott to return in June “as strong as he’s ever been in his life.”
The 32-year-old has family in Senegal and one of his children is due to undergo an operation. He was given a fitness programme by United’s staff earlier this week with a view to travelling to Africa before the final game of the season against Watford.
Diouf courted controversy and incurred the anger of McDermott last weekend when an offensive gesture towards Brighton’s supporters earned him a straight red card during a 2-1 defeat at Elland Road.
McDermott was highly critical of the striker and fined him two weeks’ wages - around £20,000 - on Monday morning.
But the United manager said: “I have to say that on Monday and Tuesday he responded so well in training, fantastically well.
“It was a difficult situation, not just for him because of what he did, but for me as well. The last thing I want to be doing is taking people’s money from them. But I have to do what I feel is right and I’ll do that every time.
“He knows that but also he knows I’ve got respect for him. He knows that I think he’s a talented player. He knows that I feel he can make the difference.
“If he gets himself as fit as he’s ever been in his whole life then he can have a fantastic year next season. He believes that and I certainly believe in him.”
Diouf was handed a two-match suspension by the Football Association, despite McDermott’s initial belief that he would be missing for three games, and the ban will rule him of the opening fixture of the 2013-14 season.
But McDermott will not insist on Diouf attending Vicarage Road with the rest of United’s squad tomorrow, saying: “He’s going back to Senegal.
“He’s going to see his children and one of them needs to have an operation so I’ve told him to go.
“We’ve given him a fitness programme to take away with him and I’m convinced that he’s going to come back as strong as he’s ever been in his life.”
McDermott’s handling of Diouf’s indiscipline and his subsequent comments about the Senegalese international have drawn a line under the suggestion that Diouf might be among the victims when Leeds begin culling their first-team squad in the weeks ahead.
The former Liverpool player signed an 18-month deal in December having originally joined Leeds on a short-term basis for £5,000 a week.
His new contract doubled his salary and tied him to Elland Road until the end of next season.
Diouf’s gesture on Saturday – grabbing his crotch in view of Brighton’s travelling crowd – came moments after he won and scored a 74th-minute penalty, levelling the game at 1-1. Without him and Rodolph Austin – dismissed in the first half by referee Graham Scott – United conceded a late winner to Albion forward Leonardo Ulloa.
McDermott said: “Diouf’s got so much talent. I watch him train and it’s only seeing him that I realise that. We’re just trying to harness the talent and help him.
“What’s done is done and the thing about me is that when I make a decision, whatever it is, I won’t hark back to it.
“All I’m saying to him is that this doesn’t happen any more. He doesn’t need to be waving to opposition fans or drawing attention to himself away from the ball.
“He should be getting attention when he’s got the ball because he does things other people cannot do.”
By Phil Hay
El-Hadji Diouf will be absent from Vicarage Road tomorrow after receiving permission from Leeds United to travel to Senegal and start his summer break early.
Diouf, who begins a two-match ban this weekend following his controversial dismissal against Brighton last Saturday, is flying out of England with an order from Brian McDermott to return in June “as strong as he’s ever been in his life.”
The 32-year-old has family in Senegal and one of his children is due to undergo an operation. He was given a fitness programme by United’s staff earlier this week with a view to travelling to Africa before the final game of the season against Watford.
Diouf courted controversy and incurred the anger of McDermott last weekend when an offensive gesture towards Brighton’s supporters earned him a straight red card during a 2-1 defeat at Elland Road.
McDermott was highly critical of the striker and fined him two weeks’ wages - around £20,000 - on Monday morning.
But the United manager said: “I have to say that on Monday and Tuesday he responded so well in training, fantastically well.
“It was a difficult situation, not just for him because of what he did, but for me as well. The last thing I want to be doing is taking people’s money from them. But I have to do what I feel is right and I’ll do that every time.
“He knows that but also he knows I’ve got respect for him. He knows that I think he’s a talented player. He knows that I feel he can make the difference.
“If he gets himself as fit as he’s ever been in his whole life then he can have a fantastic year next season. He believes that and I certainly believe in him.”
Diouf was handed a two-match suspension by the Football Association, despite McDermott’s initial belief that he would be missing for three games, and the ban will rule him of the opening fixture of the 2013-14 season.
But McDermott will not insist on Diouf attending Vicarage Road with the rest of United’s squad tomorrow, saying: “He’s going back to Senegal.
“He’s going to see his children and one of them needs to have an operation so I’ve told him to go.
“We’ve given him a fitness programme to take away with him and I’m convinced that he’s going to come back as strong as he’s ever been in his life.”
McDermott’s handling of Diouf’s indiscipline and his subsequent comments about the Senegalese international have drawn a line under the suggestion that Diouf might be among the victims when Leeds begin culling their first-team squad in the weeks ahead.
The former Liverpool player signed an 18-month deal in December having originally joined Leeds on a short-term basis for £5,000 a week.
His new contract doubled his salary and tied him to Elland Road until the end of next season.
Diouf’s gesture on Saturday – grabbing his crotch in view of Brighton’s travelling crowd – came moments after he won and scored a 74th-minute penalty, levelling the game at 1-1. Without him and Rodolph Austin – dismissed in the first half by referee Graham Scott – United conceded a late winner to Albion forward Leonardo Ulloa.
McDermott said: “Diouf’s got so much talent. I watch him train and it’s only seeing him that I realise that. We’re just trying to harness the talent and help him.
“What’s done is done and the thing about me is that when I make a decision, whatever it is, I won’t hark back to it.
“All I’m saying to him is that this doesn’t happen any more. He doesn’t need to be waving to opposition fans or drawing attention to himself away from the ball.
“He should be getting attention when he’s got the ball because he does things other people cannot do.”
