Fury over soccer star's legal aid
A £40,000-a-week Premiership footballer has successfully claimed legal aid to defend a spitting charge.
Bolton Wanderers striker, El-Hadji Diouf from Senegal, is accused of spitting at a Middlesbrough fan during a match at the Riverside last November.
His solicitor has told magistrates on Teesside he will plead not guilty to the disorderly conduct charge.
The decision has sparked fury amongst MPs of all parties, who said it was an abuse of the legal aid system.
The case was adjourned earlier this month and a pre-trial review will be held on 21 June.
A Teesside Magistrates Court spokeswoman confirmed the footballer had been given legal aid, which is now known as a representation order, and will mean his legal costs are paid for by the state.
She said the reasons are that he is a French-speaker and so could not defend himself and, if he is convicted, magistrates would have to consider making a football banning order which could put him out of work.
She said they could not take money into account when making the decision.
Bob Russell, MP for Colchester and the Liberal Democrat spokesman on sport, said: "I am appalled and equally appalled at the arrogance of the man to have the gall to ask for legal aid.
"We all know the law is an
but we did not expect it to be as bad as this. "It beggars belief that he had the nerve to ask for it. Clearly he is a man with no pride."
He added it demonstrated the system was in need of an overhaul.
Former sports minister Kate Hoey said: "This seems to me not to be what legal aid was set up to do.
"There are many poor people in my constituency who have been refused legal aid.
"If someone on £40,000 a week can get legal aid there is something wrong with the system."
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Conservative MP for the Cotswolds, said: "This is a disgrace and an abuse of the system."
Diouf's solicitor declined to talk about the case.
Alan Walsh said: "This is a case that is with the courts. This is a matter that cannot be commented on."
The Legal Services Commission said individual courts made the decision to grant legal aid "in the interests of justice".
Diouf was signed by ex-Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier for £10m in 2002 from French club Lens after he had starred in that summer's World Cup.
He is currently on loan to Bolton.
, but dont get me wrong i know it wasnt a rascist or prejudice comment IN THE SLIGHTEST AND WAS NEVER EVER MEANT TO BE!!! just to get that straight before you jump down my throat, I just thought i would point it out, I'm in a real padantic mood tonight...hehe, check the end of the rumour thread.
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