Tanzanian Association Oslo

Glasgow Rangers star

El-Hadji Diouf:

“I admire Colonel Gaddafi”

Controvesrial Glasgow Rangers star - Senegalese El Hadj Diouf.

Rangers star El-Hadji Diouf has told of his admiration for his "friend" Colonel Gaddafi.

And the Ibrox bad boy admitted he feels sympathy for the murdering tyrant - because Libya's bloody civil war "must be very hard" for him.

Diouf said: "Gaddafi is a man I have always admired. I am telling the truth.

"I know him, and I know his son Saif as well. They are my friends.

"I do not honestly know what is really happening in Libya at the moment but it must be very hard for Gaddafi and his family.

"I cannot remain far away from what is happening in Libya. I do not know who is in the right and who is wrong but it is a shame to see so many victims. "By the will of Allah, victory will go to the side that is in the right."

Diouf spoke as Gaddafi's forces continued to kill their own citizens by bombarding the besieged city of Misrata.

Around 300 civilians have died in Misrata alone since the uprising began in February. The regime have denied using illegal cluster bombs as they pound the city.

Senegalese Diouf is a major figure in African football and is believed to have encountered the Gaddafi clan several times over the years. The Gaddafis' interest in the game is well-known.

Saif Gaddafi, the regime's chief defender since the revolution began, controlled a massive Libyan investment fund that bought shares in Italian giants Juventus.

And another of Gaddafi's sons, Saadi, had a brief but highly-publicised spell in Serie A with Perugia, joining the club in 2003.

Diouf's bizarre intervention in the Libya crisis came in an interview with an Algerian magazine.

And he also took the chance to hit back at Celtic skipper Scott Brown, who taunted him after scoring against Rangers in February.

Diouf said: "That celebration was targeted. He came over to wind me up at close quarters, stretching his arms and puffing out his chest.

"I knew that one day or another he was going to pay for that."

Diouf said he got his revenge when Rangers beat Celtic in the League Cup final. 

He added: "I made him pay by holding the trophy in my arms, while he was empty-handed.

"It is always good to win prizes. We made Celtic jealous, but that is life."

Source: www.dailyrecord.co.uk