SAM Allardyce has hit back at the critics who have condemned El-Hadji Diouf and questioned Wanderers' handling of the controversial Senegal striker.

The Reebok boss has been angered by the personal nature of the criticism following Monday's 1-0 win at Blackburn, when Diouf was accused of deliberately diving to win the decisive penalty, and he is resisting calls for him to reveal whether he has disciplined the player.

"Everybody is having a go because it is El Hadji Diouf,"he said. "The media have decided he has to be banned by the FA.

"I have no problem with that as long as everyone else is banned by the FA for doing exactly the same thing El Hadji did."

Allardyce has spoken to Diouf since the Ewood Park incident but refuses to reveal whether he has disciplined him.

"I talk to El-Hadji behind the scenes all the time,"he told the club's website. "Internal discipline at Bolton Wanderers is paramount and an integral part to our continued success. Whatever I do with my players, internally, is my business and I will not discuss matters in the public domain.

"People are suggesting I come out and criticise my players in public, but this never happens at any other club so why should I address any issues through the media? Other managers in the Premiership don't criticise their players, so why should I be any different?"

Allardyce regards the Diouf controversy as further evidence to support his call for the introduction of video replays.

"The one thing in the game that needs to happen right now is to introduce technology and use television replays to influence decisions,"he said. "If this happens we can take out all controversies and start talking about the positives of the game. You will get consistent decisions and all the unwanted hysteria the media keeps churning out can be avoided.

"There's too much at stake in the Premiership and only the advent of television replays will put an end to all the speculation relating to decisions on the field."