Diouf 'spitting trial' can hear previous bad conduct

Two previous incidents of bad behaviour by Bolton forward El-Hadji Diouf can form part of an alleged spitting prosecution against him, magistrates ruled today.

The Senegal international is set to stand trial following an incident in his team’s Barclays Premiership clash at Middlesbrough where a home fan alleged Diouf spat at him while leaving the pitch at the Riverside Stadium last November.

Diouf, 24, who has denied the charge of disorderly conduct, a Section 5 Public Order offence, is set to stand trial at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on December 8.

A legal hearing was today held at the magistrates’ court during which Diouf’s solicitor Alan Walsh opposed a Crown Prosecution Service application to introduce evidence of previous bad conduct by the international footballer.

During today’s 90-minute bad character hearing Mr Walsh argued it would be prejudicial to include two previous incidents of bad conduct.

Bench chairman Leo Murphy ruled that the incidents could be introduced at the future trial and that his decision could be reported, except for the precise details of the incidents.

“We feel that whichever bench deals with this alleged offence should be entitled to that information,” he said.

“The incidents are admissible as evidence of bad character.”

Diouf was excused attending today’s hearing.

The striker recently signed for Bolton from Liverpool after a loan spell having initially been brought to England by former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier.