Steven Gerrard's lawyers have dismissed allegations made by El Hadji Diouf that the ex-Liverpool captain "has never liked black people".
Diouf made the claim on Senegalese radio station RFM in response to Gerrard's stinging criticism of his former Anfield team-mate in his forthcoming autobiography, which is released later this month.
In remarks reported on the website of Groupe Futurs Medias, the parent company of RFM, Diouf said: "It's common knowledge. Gerrard has never liked black people. When I was at Liverpool, I showed him I was black, that I wasn't English, but that I'm no pushover. All the time I was there, he never dared looked me in the eye."
Lawyers acting for Gerrard denied the allegations, telling the Daily Mail: "The allegations in those alleged statements are completely false and seriously defamatory of our client."
Diouf also claimed Gerrard, who now plays for LA Galaxy, was jealous of his success and is disliked outside Merseyside.
He added: "He hasn't achieved what I have in football. When I came to Liverpool, I came with the status of a big boss and he just lived there.
"I am respected in world football, the greatest football experts have appointed me among the seven best players in the World Cup, the top 100 players of the century.
"Several big players do not belong. Everywhere I go out of my country, they worship me, everywhere Gerrard goes outside Liverpool he is disliked."
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