Steven Gerrard's Lawyers Reportedly Deny El-Hadji Diouf's Racism Claims

Legal representatives for ex-Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard have reportedly denied claims from the Reds legend’s former team-mate El-Hadji Diouf that he is racist.

Gerrard is having his upcoming autobiography, My Story, serialised by the Daily Mail and in one section, claimed the Senegalese forward was the player signed by the club who he “least liked.” As reported the Sun's Tom Gardiner, Diouf responded by claiming Gerrard “has never liked blacks” on Radio Futur Media.

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In the wake of Diouf’s criticism, “Gerrard's lawyers have moved to deny any claims he is racist,” according to Tom Sheen and Mark Critchley of the Independent.

Gerrard’s solicitors, Himsworths Legal, also released a statement, per Ben Burrows of the Daily Mirror: “The allegations in those statements are completely false and seriously defamatory of our client.”

Ryan Babel, who played alongside Gerrard at Anfield, took to social media to lend his support to the former England captain:

"

@smtm_LFC i did not got that feeling from Steve G so i think he got it wrong.

— Ryan Babel (@Ryanbabel) September 15, 2015"

Diouf also claimed “Liverpool is not a club that welcomes black players, unless they are English” per Gardiner’s piece. But it’s a statement that seems at odds when looking at the current squad, which contains black, non-English players in Christian Benteke, Kolo Toure, Divock Origi and Mamadou Sakho.

Diouf is no stranger to controversy. As Gerrard noted in his autobiography, the forward infamously spat at a Celtic supporter in 2003.

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In addition, he was also branded a “sewer rat” by ex-Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Warnock in 2011 after accusations he had taunted Jamie Mackie, who had broken his leg. Mackie claimed Diouf stood over him while down injured and shouted "f--k you and f--k your leg."

There has been no word as yet whether Gerrard's lawyers will consider further action against Diouf.