Former Liverpool star El Hadji Djouf has accused Anfield legend Steven Gerrard of racism following his criticism, reports The Sun.
The midfielder had said that his former teammate was a flop with the Merseyside club, which the ex-Senegal international seems to have taken offence to. The forward has accused both the club and the player of disliking non-English, black footballers. He also believes that he is a more widely supported player than the Reds hero.
“Gerrard is just jealous of me. He hasn’t achieved what I have done in football. I arrived at Liverpool with the status of a big boss, and he just lived there. I am respected throughout world football.
“The greatest experts in the game have declared me one of the seven best players at a World Cup, and among the 100 best players of the century. There are lots of great players who are not on these lists. Everywhere I go away from my homeland people worship me — while Gerrard will get abuse whenever he leaves his home city of Liverpool.”
He continued: “He got England knocked out of the last World Cup, and it is his fault that Liverpool did not win the Premier League [in 2014]. Everybody could see how he made life difficult for Mario Balotelli at Liverpool. I warned him beforehand.
“Liverpool is not a club that welcomes black players, unless they are English — but if they are not they don’t stand a chance. It is common knowledge that Gerrard has never liked blacks. When I was at Liverpool I showed him that I was black, I wasn’t English, and I wasn’t going to take any nonsense.”
This claim doesn’t appear to have much evidence behind it, and will surely anger both the Reds and Gerrard with its connotations. The 34-year-old hasn’t reacted as of yet, but may feel it necessary to deny the accusations.
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Gerrard has now left Liverpool, and is playing for MLS side LA Galaxy. The former England international has made a strong start, scoring in a 5-2 win over San Jose Earthquakes on his debut for the club. He is also alongside ex-Anfield man Robbie Keane at the American side.