Bolton striker Diouf on spitting charge

Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after spitting at Arjan de Zeeuw during the weekend Premiership match against Portsmouth.

Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after spitting at Arjan de Zeeuw during the weekend Premiership match against Portsmouth.

It is not the first time the 23-year-old Senegal international - who has been fined by his club - has been involved in spitting incidents.

Diouf was fined 5,000 pounds by a Glasgow court in 2003 after spitting at a Celtic fan during a UEFA Cup game for Liverpool.

He has subsequently been the subject of further similar allegations, including an unproven case at Middlesbrough earlier this season.

But Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said a sense of perspective should be applied to the situation.

"The FA have seen something they don't want to happen, so they can't very well ignore it. But they have to take into account that he has apologised and received a sanction from Bolton already," Taylor said.

"He has not committed murder but he has done something unacceptable within the disciplinary code. He has taken the first step in apologising."