El Hadji Diouf has sensationally confessed that he has deliberately got himself sent off in the past in order to fulfil his international obligations.

Bolton Wanderers star Diouf quit international football earlier in the week, before surprisingly being included in Senegal's squad for a friendly against Guinea.

He has been accused of not showing loyalty to Senegal in his home country and, in an attempt to dissuade critics, has now claimed that when playing for his club he has, at times, deliberately attracted a red card in order to leave him free for international duty.

"I have got myself sent off while playing for my clubs, in order that I could go off to play for the Senegal national side," Diouf is quoted in the News of the World.

"I have refused lots of chances to play for my clubs so that I could answer my international call-ups and play in the African Cup of Nations."