'Devastated' Diouf facing police charge

Having sullied his reputation El Hadji Diouf yesterday began suffering more tangible repercussions of his loss of control at Parkhead on Thursday. First to act were Liverpool, who fined their Senegalese striker two weeks' wages, the maximum punishment, for spitting at spectators late in the Uefa Cup quarter-final tie.

Although the fine, which is expected to be donated to charity, is likely to be in the region of £80,000, Diouf will be more concerned about investigations taking place in Glasgow and Geneva.

North of the border the Procurator Fiscal, the Scottish equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service, were studying Strathclyde Police's report into the incident which could lead to an assault charge. On the Continent, Uefa, the game's European governing body, are to review the match video. If they decide there is a case to answer a disciplinary committee will be held before next Thursday's Anfield return.

The incident came late in the 1-1 draw after Diouf had tumbled into the crowd. As he got up several spectators laid their hands on him. Some may have been malevolent but most appeared only to be trying to touch some of the stardust which lies on today's players. Within seconds they realised heroes are as fallible as everyone else as Africa's Footballer of the Year turned to spit and reveal his feet of clay.

Gérard Houllier, while strongly critical of Diouf, said: "I am not going to make excuses for him but the boy is young and is devastated by what has happened. He has made a mistake. He knows that. We all make mistakes in life because we are human."

Diouf's moment of madness marred a fascinating match which had up until that point been played in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Beforehand Houllier said of his team: "We are becoming extremely efficient, effective and clinical." Such qualities, useful as they are, do not stir the soul. What impressed about Liverpool on Thursday was the fluidity of their game. Passing and moving in the Anfield tradition, they were much easier on the eye than of late whilst still effective. The quality is there for Liverpool to play an expansive game as long as they have the confidence and courage to do so.

Back in Glasgow, Martin O'Neill was thinking beyond the return leg. The Celtic manager said the club had profited as much from their Uefa Cup run as they would have done in the Champions' League and he hoped he would be able to benefit by strengthening the squad.

The loss of Alan Thompson early in the match compounded the pre-match withdrawal of Didier Agathe and showed Celtic's comparative lack of depth. "When you get a couple of injuries you have to have not just sufficient cover but top-class cover," O'Neill said. "The occasion was marvellous and if we want more nights like that we have to do something about it."

There will be no respite for O'Neill's players as Celtic play Rangers in the final of the CIS Cup this weekend.