Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf has been fined two weeks' wages over the spitting incident that marred the UEFA Cup tie with Celtic, manager Gerard Houllier said on Friday.

The Senegalese could also face a police charge and UEFA action after TV replays clearly showed the player spitting in the direction of home supporters following a touchline clash towards the end of Thursday's Parkhead clash.

But Houllier played down the incident and insisted Diouf would start Sunday's premier league game at Tottenham.

"El Hadji is young, he is learning and he makes mistakes. This was a mistake and he realises he must not do that anymore," Houllier told reporters.

"There is not the same importance placed on spitting in various other countries and what he did was wrong, but not as bad as what Eric Cantona did (attacking a fan in 1995).

"It doesn't mean you accept that, but it does mean that you can forgive and we will help and support him.

"You forgive because he is your child. People have said a lot of things since the incident, but to me, El Hadji Diouf is a Liverpool player, so he is like one of my children."

Diouf was quickly substituted by Houllier following an angry reaction by supporters to the incident. The quarter-final game ended in a 1-1 draw, setting up a tense second leg at Anfield next week.

Houllier said the striker had apologised to his team mates, adding: "El Hadji said he was smacked in the head, which is right because if you look the supporters were not helping him to get up.

"But whatever happened I don't think he should have responded in the manner he did. He let himself down, he let his team mates down, but most of all he let himself down."

Liverpool have already agreed to donate Diouf's fine, which could be tens of thousands of pounds, to a charity of Celtic's choice.

UEFA spokesman Romain Vez told Reuters: "UEFA has the power to impose a fine or a suspension on El Hadji Diouf ahead of the second leg but we look at all incidents case by case."

Superintendent Kevin Smith of Strathclyde police said the striker would be interviewed over the incident.