Celtic chief executive Ian McLeod has hit out at UEFA for fining the Parkhead club following El Hadji Diouf's spitting incident.
The Liverpool striker was yesterday handed a two-match ban from UEFA, after they viewed video evidence of the incident, which occurred towards the end of the first leg of the UEFA Cup quarter-final at Parkhead.
A harsher punishment was widely expected, however UEFA took into consideration the fact that his club have fined him two weeks wages and the European football governing body also cited provocation from the Celtic fans as one of the mitigating factors and fined the club £2,300.
The move to fine Celtic has left McLeod angered and amazed, and he said "The television evidence clearly indicates any contact made with El Hadji Diouf by Celtic supporters was in nothing other than a friendly manner."
"We find it astonishing that UEFA should see it otherwise, particularly given that the player has apologised unreservedly for his actions and that Liverpool Football Club have donated £30,000 to the Celtic Charity Fund as a welcome gesture of goodwill immediately following the incident," McLeod added
"Celtic would be first to acknowledge that Liverpool has acted honourably following this regrettable incident and both clubs remain confident that the good relationship which has evolved between the clubs will remain."
Filed by Rob Wright
