CLUB bosses are refusing to get publicly involved in controversy surrounding Premiership footballer El Hadji Diouf.

Officials at Bolton Wanderers last night remained silent about the prosecution he faces for allegedly spitting at a fan at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that the on-loan striker will be served a summons for disorderly behaviour following an incident at November's game.

Diouf, 24, is said to have spat a mouthful of water into the crowd as he was being substituted towards the end of the 1-1 draw.

The summons will warn Diouf of a case listing at Teesside Magistrates' Cou-rt, in Middlesbrough, on a date to be fixed.

At a Press conference yesterday, ahead of Bolton's crucial match against Aston Villa tomorrow, manager Sam Allardyce would only say: "We cannot let other things distract us going into the game."