Row over UK legal aid for top earning footballer

LONDON - Britain's former Sports Minister Kate Hoey has condemned the decision to grant a millionaire Premier League footballer state funds to fight a charge of spitting at a young fan.

Bolton Wanderers forward El-Hadji Diouf, who earns Stg40,000 ($NZ104,000) a week, was granted legal aid after being charged with spitting at an 11-year-old during a match in November, the Sun newspaper said on Wednesday.

Senegal's Diouf, who has denied the disorderly conduct charge, will not have to pay his legal bill whatever the outcome of the trial.

Moves have already begun to tighten access to legal aid.

On Tuesday, the government launched legislation that would deny high earners like Diouf from getting state hand-outs to fight their legal battles.

"This seems to me not to be what legal aid was set up to do," Hoey told Reuters. "There are many poor people in my constituency who have been refused legal aid.

"If someone on 40,000 pounds a week can get legal aid, there is something wrong with the system."

A spokeswoman at the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) said the new legislation was designed to bring means-testing to magistrates courts in the same way it is currently applied to cases before higher courts.

"Our principle is that those who can pay, should pay," the spokeswoman said.

The Sun quoted Diouf's solicitor as saying his client was entitled to legal aid.

"Currently legal aid is not means-tested. If there is a fault it is in the system," he said. "There should be no criticism of El-Hadji Diouf."

"Aid isn't granted automatically by the courts, you apply for it."

A spokeswoman for Bolton Wanderers said they would not be commenting on the matter as it was a private issue.

The 24-year-old spent the season just finished on loan to Bolton from Liverpool, whom he joined in a Stg10 million deal from French club Lens in 2002.

- REUTERS