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BAN: El-Hadji Diouf

BLACKBURN ROVERS' striker El-Hadji Diouf has been banned from all football-related activities in Senegal for five years.

A Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) statement said: "Diouf is banned from performing any football-related activity for a period of five years."

The ban comes after the forward told Radio France International last month that “the whole system of African football is corrupt.”

The Federation claimed Diouf had been called to a hearing on July 20 regarding his comment, but the Blackburn forward insisted he had heard nothing of it.

According to the FSF, there is still a possibility that the decision could be reversed if Diouf were to appear before the disciplinary committee.

The Senegalese footballer is no stranger to controversy. He was recently fined by Blackburn for failing to report on time for pre-season training, and was left out for their pre-season tour to Hong Kong.

Rover’s manager Steve Kean said in an interview this week that he thought it was time for Diouf to leave the club, indicating that enquiries have been made by other clubs.