Diouf: Warnock is nothing to me
Blackburn forward El-Hadji Diouf has hit back at QPR boss Neil Warnock over claims the Senegal international taunted a player lying injured with a broken leg.
Warnock alleged that Diouf verbally abused Rangers striker Jamie Mackie as he awaited a stretcher following a clash with Gael Givet in last Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie at Ewood Park.
Warnock said calling Diouf a sewer rat “might be insulting to sewer rats” in an astonishing personal attack on the former Liverpool and Bolton player.
Diouf, 30, has been no stranger to controversy during his time in England but has strenuously denied Warnock’s claims.
Diouf told Sky Sports News: “I am very sorry for the lad to have broken his leg, the QPR player.
“But what Warnock said – I never said that.
“After the game I argued with some players, that’s it.
“When the lad broke his leg, I never said anything back to him.
“I never talked to him, you can ask Benjani or Ryan Nelsen.
“Everything Warnock said is not right.”
Diouf also turned his fire on Warnock himself, claiming he is not one of the game’s best managers.
He said: “I am not disappointed with what Warnock said – who is Warnock? He is nothing to me.
“He is not Alex Ferguson, he is not Arsene Wenger, he is not Sam Allardyce or an important manager.”
Diouf believes he is too often judged on his past reputation.
He said: “Of course, but I am a strong man and I can survive with that.”
