New Blackburn Rovers signing El Hadji Diouf had an amazing bust-up with former Sunderland teammate Anton Ferdinand, it has been revealed.

The Sun says it took place at a post-match meal after Sunderland's 1-0 midweek win against Fulham.

A senior player said: "It was worse than anything I have ever seen and when they were pulled apart El-Hadji shouted that he would stick Anton with a knife."

No knife was brandished but the severity of the fight has left the Sunderland squad shocked.

The bust-up continued the next day in training and boss Ricky Sbragia sold the Senegal striker, 28, to Blackburn for £2million just 24 hours later.

England Under-21 star Ferdinand was the innocent victim in the feud which began during Tuesday's match. The pair accused each other of a lack of effort and the tear-up continued after the game in the dressing room.

Our source added: "It started during the game but El-Hadji clearly felt it wasn't finished. It all kicked off. But the fight escalated extremely quickly and became very violent.

"At first we thought it was best to let them get it out of their system.

"But it became so vicious we feared that Anton could end up with serious injuries and El-Hadji was pulled off him.

"The squad was left stunned by what we had witnessed. Nobody spoke. None of us were surprised when we heard El-Hadji had been sold to Blackburn."