Warden misses golden chance to book Diouf

Exclusive by Pete Bainbridge

October 13, 2009

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EL-HADJI Diouf appeared to dodge a penalty after a parking warden missed an open goal.

The former Bolton Wanderers star enjoyed a pizza at San Carlo restaurant in Manchester city centre while the massive gold Cadillac Escalade he had arrived in sat in a loading bay.

A traffic warden spotted the offence - but was unable to issue a £70 fine because her hand-held computer was not working. Diouf was later seen laughing and smiling as he drove off.

The 28-year-old had spent about an hour in the restaurant, favoured by celebrities, eating a seafood pizza with friends.

The car - which also had no visible tax disc - was parked in the bay in nearby Southgate. It is an offence to park in loading bays if you are not delivering goods.

A council spokesman said: "In the circumstances described to us, this vehicle should have received a Penalty Charge Notice for parking in this loading bay.

"In mitigation the officer's hand-held computer wasn't working and she was on the way back to base to obtain a replacement.

"Had the vehicle still been parked when she returned to this location at 2.50pm then a Penalty Charge Notice would have been issued."

Blackburn Rovers - Diouf's current club - declined to comment last night. But Guy Cameron, a life-long Rovers supporter who was walking past San Carlo and saw the high-earning striker's car, said: "The fans are scraping around for money to buy a season ticket, and then you see this... it's nice to know what our money is being spent on."

It is not the first time Senegal international Diouf has found himself in trouble on the roads. In 2005, he Diouf left one of his fleet of cars in a disabled parking bay while he went shopping for the afternoon.

His black Lincoln Navigator sat illegally on St Mary's Street while he shopped in Kendal's, much to the fury of passers by.

When challenged by the M.E.N. on that occasion, he apologised and along with his friend.

And in January 2009, Diouf caused traffic chaos on the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle when his Cadillac Escalade broke down.

The striker was playing for Newcastle's arch-rivals Sunderland at the time.

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tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (13/10/2009 at 09:39)

Hang on , so in this clear case of a traffic violation, why didnt the traffic warden ring for assistance? Take photos? Used a pen and paper?

Lots of options really. Obviouslty Mr Diouf is a habitual offender of illegal parking as per the information contained in this article.

1970, hell (13/10/2009 at 09:45)

Should of let his tyres down,and it looks like a clowns car.

david duck (13/10/2009 at 09:49)

There are plenty of other traffic wardens in this area of the city so why did they not just get one with a working machine to issue the ticket. Better still they should of got the police to remove it for having no tax. Is that not what would have happened to any of us normal citezens?

joanne card, manchester (13/10/2009 at 09:56)

tasteful....
mates with phil neville by any chance el

Local lad, outsidethebox (13/10/2009 at 09:57)

Its a easy problem to solve the next time hes caught ban him from driving for a month for contemp.

smittyh, Blackley, Manchester (13/10/2009 at 10:05)

Never mind a parking ticket - the style police need to issue a warrant for his arrest for crimes against taste!

Robcnash, Woodley (13/10/2009 at 10:06)

Just goes to show... money can't buy class!

What the hell is that fugly thing...!

jambo77, Failsworth (13/10/2009 at 10:21)

This isn't news.

Mike S, Manchester (13/10/2009 at 10:23)

I walked past that car yesterday. What a chav. New money eh?...

adders, Co.Cavan ex Manchester (13/10/2009 at 10:33)

Looks like a clown`s car ? Well, isn`t he the spitting image of one?

Donna, Harpurhey (13/10/2009 at 10:34)

Was she scared of getting a facefull of spit ? What a gentleman this man is.

uncle bulgaria, Wimbledon Common (13/10/2009 at 10:39)

What a complete and utter joke! Have you seen how this guy is dressed in the video clip? It's a weird cross between blinged up wannabe gangster and 80's New York Pimp. His mates are laughing at the camera person and don't care that they parked illegally, why would they, they don't receive any punishment. Nice to see there's one rule for the rich and famous and another for the rest of us.

The bit where the car slowly drives off with loud Hip Hop music blasting out is hilarious, Diouf is a complete and utter cliche.

Wes Brown (13/10/2009 at 10:49)

I hope someone from GMP sees this story and checks to see if the vehicle does have VED (road tax).

Fashion police please ticket him for the awful car and wearing sun glasses during the day when it doesn't look that sunny.

Esso Blue & R. Soul, Manchester (13/10/2009 at 11:41)

Is he giving his cig butt to a scrounger.

curiousyellow, Rusholme (13/10/2009 at 12:22)

what on earth would/could posess anyone to own such a hideous car?

Rob Wilson (13/10/2009 at 13:50)

Im sure those front windows would fail the 'tint test' aswell. Tut tut

TheRealWorld (13/10/2009 at 14:48)

Before seeing this, if you had to draw a picture of what his car would look like you would not be far off. An horrible car.

Garsinho, Manchester (13/10/2009 at 14:59)

Local lad, outsidethebox (13/10/2009 at 15:43)

surely its time to send a message out that because these clowns drive expensive cars they still have to abide by our laws,the same for everyone.Infact the fines should actually go higher the more the person earns.

Andanotherthing, Mcr (13/10/2009 at 15:56)

Why does the report mention that he was eating a seafood pizza? Why is that relevant to the story? Did the reporter spend more time trying to find out what he was eating than trying to find out why he was parked illegally?
Garsinho, Manchester
13/10/2009 at 14:59

The Welk on the Pizza was caught off Dogger Bank at 04:42 14:06:09. The Shipping forecast for that day was read by Charlotte (Lottie) Green. The crust was unstuffed. Thourogh journalism is in the detail.

to the point, bury (13/10/2009 at 17:34)

No disabled badge?

alderley (13/10/2009 at 18:05)

He's a disgrace to his club and a disgrace to his country.

Casablanca, ex-Bury Road Convent, Rochdale (13/10/2009 at 18:22)

English grammar is obviously not a popular subject in schools. So many people don't know the difference between the preposition "of" and the verb "to have".

For example, instead of "should have" they say "should of".

joanne card, manchester (13/10/2009 at 18:44)

here here casablanca,
proper does my 'ed in that

MPs gravy train, UK (14/10/2009 at 02:02)

The computer doesn't work.....ha I see. that explains why the black cabs parked illegally beyond the ranks on Whitworth Street West are ignored day in day out.

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