Diouf's VIP invite to fan he spat on

Liverpool star El Hadji Diouf has invited the Celtic fan he spat on during a Uefa cup match to be his VIP guest for the return leg of the fixture.

The Senegal international wishes to apologise for the incident which overshadowed the quarter final at Celtic Park.

Liverpool confirmed Diouf, 22, has asked Celtic season ticket holder Dominic Schiavone and a friend to travel to Anfield for Thursday’s crunch fixture.

The club said it was hoped the move would ensure the “special relationship” between the teams was not damaged.

An estimated 5.4 million viewers saw the £10 million player spit in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw.

Mr Schiavone, 18, and a guest will be driven south for a two-night stay during which he will receive a personal apology from Diouf and a Liverpool top signed by the first team.

The teenager will then take a VIP seat, with full hospitality, for the sell-out match.

A Liverpool spokesman said: “We have arranged for the fan to meet El Hadji Diouf because he wants to apologise.

“Everyone at Liverpool is conscious of the special relationship between the clubs which goes back a long way.

“The last thing we want is for this incident to sour that relationship.”

Mr Schiavone told the Daily Record newspaper he would welcome the move: “It would be a nice gesture for either Liverpool or Diouf to organise that for me.

“I’m desperate to see the game and what happened at Parkhead hasn’t put me off.”

Strathclyde Police confirmed that they had sent a report on the incident to the procurator fiscal who will decide whether to prosecute.

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier issued an apology on behalf of the club after the match and fined the player two weeks’ wages.

European football’s governing body Uefa have announced they will be reviewing the match video and if there is a case to answer a disciplinary committee will be held before the second leg on March 20.

The incident happened after Diouf, a star of Senegal’s World Cup team, careered over an advertising hoarding and into the crowd towards the end of Thursday’s game.

One fan put his hand on the player’s head as he struggled to get to his feet and Diouf turned on the crowd as he climbed back on to the pitch.

The incident sparked an angry reaction from some Celtic supporters.

Police said two fans were arrested but were released without charge shortly afterwards.