Source: Daily_Mail
Another day of shame for the menace that is El-Hadji Diouf
Referees are expected not to prejudge players. Yet, when dealing with someone like El-Hadji Diouf, you can hardly blame officials if they did.[LNB]Diouf's approach and attitude are typified by the tackle he made in the 42th minute on Aston Villa's Habib Beye during Blackburn's 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Villa Park. [LNB]Described as a 'coward's tackle' by Sportsmail's Andy Townsend on the ITV highlights show, it was closer to assault than a challenge and I was disappointed that his manager, Sam Allardyce, attempted to deflect the attention from Diouf's tackle rather than condemn it.[LNB] Moment of madness: El-Hadji Diouf helps up his victim Habib Beye[LNB] More from Graham Poll... Graham Poll: The offside rule explained for Hansen, McCarthy and the rest of us29/12/09 GRAHAM POLL: Why the fourth official was right to sort Wolves' yellow peril27/12/09 Graham Poll: Roy Keane would rage but Neil Warnock is just a sore loser25/12/09 Graham Poll: The referee's a cheater? What a load of rubbish20/12/09 GRAHAM POLL: Why refs must stand up to baiters like Craig Bellamy and Mark Noble14/12/09 GRAHAM POLL: Gallas' challenge on Gerrard WAS a penalty13/12/09 GRAHAM POLL: Divers are all foreign? No, it's a British disease13/12/09 GRAHAM POLL: You can't help but feel sympathy for shirtless Younes Kaboul13/12/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEBig Sam seemed more concerned by how the referee, Howard Webb, came to the decision to dismiss the Senegal player rather than condemn the shocking two-footed lunge. Admittedly, he did brand Diouf 'stupid' for 'giving the referee a decision to make' but I saw nothing wrong with the match officials actions.[LNB]Assistant referee, Peter Kirkup, was close enough to the challenge to see its intensity as well as almost being taken out by the onrushing Blackburn man. He waved his flag immediately and vigorously - a key signal to indicate the severity of the challenge. [LNB]The red card was correct, inevitable and should have resulted in Diouf leaving the field immediately. Instead he moved around protesting his innocence to Kirkup, Webb and Beye, and I hope the FA add another match to his suspension for failing to leave the field quickly enough.[LNB]This was Diouf's third red card in January, the other two coming in 2007 against Middlesborough and the first back in 2004 when playing for Liverpool against Chelsea. [LNB]That first one preceded the African Cup of Nations as Saturday's does but any suggestion that this one was in order to free up time pre-tournament can be forgotten - Senegal did not qualify for the finals this time.[LNB] No option: Howard Webb sends off Diouf for his wild tackle[LNB]In addition to those January straight reds, Diouf has also beendismissed for a poor challenge in just the eighth minute againstArsenal and for foul language following the final whistle at CravenCottage.[LNB]I was the referee for the dismissal against Fulham and was amazed at Diouf's reaction to me at the final whistle of a game that Bolton had lost 2-1. [LNB]He was full of contempt for me and refused to be taken away by colleagues leaving me with no option but to show him the red card even though the game was over.[LNB] Good riddance: Diouf is waved off by the Aston Villa fans[LNB]Add to that crime sheet his two charges for spitting and you begin to get a feel for the character that takes the field. But to really understand you need to share a pitch with him - one of the few players whose name I really disliked seeing on the team sheet.[LNB]The problem for Diouf is that he can show no respect for a referee and despite this referees try to talk to him in an attempt to make him calm down or see their point of view. [LNB]In fact they spend a disproportionate amount of time on the management of the serial offender when the best option would be to just discipline him - when appropriate, of course.[LNB] GOOD WEEK FOR...Roy KeaneIpswich who benefited massively in disciplinary terms in two recent matches. Firstly they appealed the absolutely correct Boxing Day red card for Jon Stead which, due to the FA not working over Christmas, meant that he was free to score twice against QPR. The additional game ban for a frivolous appeal won't help Rangers! Then on Saturday they appeared to get the benefit of two dubious red card decisions which contributed to their win up at Blackpool. Maybe Keane's luck has finally changed. [LNB]BAD WEEK FOR...Ian HollowayThe Blackpool manager Holloway ended the FA Cup tie against Ipswichin the stand at Bloomfield Road. I felt for him following the bizarre dismissal of RobEdwards for denial of a goalscoring opportunity. This was Blackpool'ssecond red card for the same offence - if the first was debatable, thenthe second was clearly wrong. Ipswich scored the winner from theresulting free kick, now against nine-man, and this tippedHolloway over the edge. He complained to the fourth official and thenstarting to strip off in freezing conditions. Madness! [LNB] [LNB][LNB]
