Senegal Football Federation Responds to El Hadji Diouf After Land Dispute Remarks

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially broken its silence following a series of controversial media appearances by one of the country’s most iconic sporting figures, El Hadji Diouf.

In a sternly worded press release, the governing body of Senegalese football made it clear that while Diouf remains a ‘legend,’ his recent attacks on the government and his public demands for land rewards have crossed a line.

The Federation expressed immediate disapproval of Diouf's decision to take internal grievances to the media. Rather than supporting the former striker’s demands, the FSF chose to highlight their strong relationship with the government.

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"The FSF wishes to distance itself completely from the remarks made by Mr Diouf against the State of Senegal. The federal body firmly condemns both the substance and the form of the claims made regarding the granting of land," a part of the press release read.

A significant portion of the press release was dedicated to defending the State of Senegal’s contributions to the sport.

The FSF sought to reassure the public that the government is actively working on the land issues mentioned by Diouf, and they expressed full confidence in the ongoing administrative process.

"The FSF recalls that the State of Senegal, through the High Authority, has always shown constant solicitude and unfailing institutional and financial support toward national football. In this regard, the Federation wishes to reassure public opinion that the land issue mentioned is being handled diligently by the highest authorities of the Republic, and remains convinced that a suitable solution will be found," the release added.

The FSF also addressed the methods used by Diouf to air his frustrations. They underscored that using the press for ‘personal or collective claims’ is not a practice the Federation will tolerate, preferring instead to use established bureaucratic channels.

"Consequently, public declarations and the use of the press to make personal or collective claims cannot be sanctioned by our institution, which prioritises republican dialogue and appropriate administrative channels."

Finally, the Federation addressed the distinction between Diouf as a national hero and Diouf as a spokesperson. While they acknowledged his historic contribution to the game, they explicitly stripped his recent comments of any official weight or backing from the FSF leadership.

"The Federation clarifies that the statements of Mr. El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf commit only himself. Although he is a legend of Senegalese football, his opinions, expressed in a personal capacity, do not in any way reflect the official position of the FSF, nor that of the Executive Committee," the statement concluded.

For the FSF, the priority is maintaining a stable, professional relationship with the state donors who fund the national game.