The Celtic supporter spat on by Liverpool's El Hadji Diouf last season is suing the player and his Premiership club for £50,000.

Lawyers for Dominic Schiavone say the Celtic fan is seeking damages after the incident at a Uefa Cup clash between the two teams in March last year. Schiavone's legal team has launched an action at the Sheriff Court in Glasgow, claiming the season ticket holder has been unable to return to his team's home ground since the first leg of the quarter-final tie.

In September 2003, Senegal international El Hadji Diouf was fined £5,000 at Glasgow Sheriff Court after he pleaded guilty to assault under provocation. It is understood that Schiavone's solicitors Morgans filed papers at the same court on 8 July. The court granted the Dunfermline-based firm up to twelve months to formally serve a writ on both Diouf and Liverpool. If that happens, solicitors for the striker and the club will have 21 days to lodge an intention to defend. Last September, the Glasgow court heard Diouf, who pleaded guilty to the spitting charge, had been provoked by Mr Schiavone, then 18.

After the match, Uefa's disciplinary panel decided that the two-time African Footballer of the Year had been incited by supporters and fined Celtic £2,300.