Diouf 'sorry' for spitting shame

Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf will personally apologise to the two Celtic fans he spat at after admitting he was “badly in the wrong”.

The Senegal international has been fined two weeks’ wages over the incident, which occurred late on in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Parkhead on Thursday after Diouf had fallen into the crowd.

Celtic fan Dominic Schiavone had to be restrained by stewards after the incident and Diouf has invited him and a friend to be his guests for the return leg at Anfield, where he will apologise for his actions.

In a statement, Diouf said: I’ve done a lot of thinking over the last two days and want to apologise again to both the Celtic supporters and Liverpool supporters for my behaviour at Celtic Park.

“I’ve no idea why I reacted in that way and can only say it was done on the spur of the moment – though that’s not meant to be an excuse.

“I remember falling back into the crowd and someone slapping me on the back of the head. I realise now that I took that contact in the wrong way, but at the time it genuinely frightened me because I had no idea what was going on behind me.

“But whatever the Celtic fan’s intentions I was wrong to do what I did and I regret the way I reacted.

“I’ve since invited both of the Celtic fans who were taken away by the stewards to be my guests at Anfield on Thursday because I want to shake hands with them and tell them to their face how sorry I am.”