Diouf handed three-game suspension
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El Hadji Diouf is restrained after Senegal's defeat by Tunisia
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TUNIS, Tunisia -- Senegal's El Hadji Diouf has been banned for three matches after his team's stormy African Nations Cup quarterfinal defeat to Tunisia on Saturday.
Diouf, involved in a running verbal battle with officials and opposing players, was accused of violent conduct.
The Liverpool star had to be restrained from approaching the Tunisian bench in the match and was escorted off by two of his own staff after the final whistle.
The ban will take effect from the beginning of the qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup which gets underway in June.
"After reviewing the video footage of the Senegal v Tunisia match, the organising committee identified various incidents which took place during the match," said a Confederation of African Football spokesman.
Saturday's match turned on a controversial incident in the 65th minute.
Senegal claimed that Diouf had been fouled by Mehdi Nafti at the start of the move which led to the goal and that a free-kick should have been awarded in their favour.
Instead Nafti carried the ball forward, passed to Ziad Jaziri whose overhead cross fell for Jawhar Mnari to power a downward header past goalkeepr Tony Sylva for the winning goal.
Play was held up for five minutes as Senegal officials came on to the pitch to protest and, at the end of the match, 10 minutes of injury time was played.