Glasgow Rangers: El-Hadji Diouf Professes Admiration for Gaddafi

El-Hadji Diouf (Glasgow Rangers star on loan from the Blackburn Rovers) has professed his admiration for Colonel Gaddafi. He made his declarations in an interview with an African magazine.

El-Hadji Diouf repeated the same declarations in the Daily Mail magazine. He said the following: "Gaddafi is a man who I have always admired."

Diouf continued by saying: "I am telling you the truth. I know him and I know his son Saif as well. They are my friends."

Diouf expressed how shameful it is for the current crisis in Libya to have many victims. At the same time, Diouf does not want to "imagine the hardship that Gaddafi and his family are going through."

El-Hadji Diouf has been involved in many controversies, especially a heated discussion with Walter Smith (Rangers Manager). The center of the heated discussion involved Rangers defender Majdid Bougherra.

Diouf had suggested that Bougherra leave the Glasgow Rangers for another club.

While not wanting to take sides, I can only imagine the negative reaction in Europe and North America towards the recent comments by Diouf. It remains to be seen how El-Hadji Diouf could be affected professionally.

I am also willing to understand the position of El-Hadji Diouf (however controversial) since Gaddafi remains an influential figure in African life.

Regardless of what people think or not about Gaddafi, I wrote this as an example of why an athlete should not make political statements.