THE mother of a boy allegedly spat on by a Premiership footballer earning £40,000 a week said last night he should pay his own legal bill for the court case.

Bolton Wanderers striker El-Hadji Diouf has been granted legal aid for the case, which follows an incident at a Middlesbrough match last November.

Last night, the alleged victim's mother joined furious MPs who were "appalled" at the decision.

She told The Northern Echo: "When I heard about it, I was very annoyed. I am shocked by the whole thing.

"This man earns £40,000 a week. Surely he could afford to pay his own legal bills."

She added: "We have not even thought about going to see a solicitor or seeking legal aid, but it wouldn't surprise me if we weren't allowed it. It's just a joke."

MPs echoed her anger - particularly after Tuesday's news that means-testing for legal aid is to return.

Bob Russell MP, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on sport, said: "I am appalled, and equally appalled at the arrogance of the man to have the gall to ask for legal aid. We all know the law is an ass but we did not expect it to be as bad as this. It beggars belief that he had the nerve to ask for it. Clearly, he is a man with no pride."

Redcar MP Vera Baird, who is a QC, said that while the decision to grant Diouf legal aid looked absurd, it was actually cheaper to pay defendants' costs at magistrates' court rather than individually means test them.

She said: "It is cheaper to give people legal aid than it is to check everybody's means, so it is the system's failure. Of course, if there was any suggestion that a person in Redcar would pay a penny in legal aid when this man is not, I would be absolutely outraged."

On Tuesday, the Government announced plans to make people earning more than £27,500 a year pay their own legal costs in magistrates' courts.

The law would bring back means testing, which was scrapped in 2001. The move is expected to save £35m.

But the Senegal international - who faces a charge of disorderly conduct -applied for legal aid before the proposals become law.

The Legal Services Commission said that, had Diouf applied for legal aid under the new rules, it would be "ruled out full stop".

Diouf denies the offence. A pre-trial review will be held on June 21.

A Teesside Magistrates' Court spokeswoman said he was given legal aid because he was a French-speaker and so could not defend himself and, if convicted, magistrates could ban him from football grounds - which could put him out of work.

Legal Aid Minister Bridget Prentice said yesterday: ''We believe that those who are charged with an offence and can afford to pay, should pay.''