Diouf, 29, appeared in court while on a trip to his home country to attend a benefit concert for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Bosses at his current club Blackburn Rovers said the player had been given time off to return to Senegal after the personal request from the country's president.

A spokesman for Diouf said the arrest on Friday had come as a shock to the footballer.

He said: "He was attending a charity event and did not expect to be arrested.

"At this stage I cannot say much more, but I will be coming to the UK this week to speak to him about the matter."

The charge of wounding with intent relates to an alleged incident last year at the Casino du Cap Vert at the coastal resort of Almadies in Senegal.

If convicted, Diouf could be facing jail, having been convicted in Senegal in 2006 for assault, when he was given a suspended jail sentence.

He also has a conviction for assault in Scotland following an accusation that he spat at Celtic fans while playing for Liverpool.

Claim Diouf racially abused ball-boy.

Diouf could be jailed for between one month to two years and fined or one of the two penalties.

Diouf and a man named as his bodyguard were charged with the casino attack after a complaint was made by a woman.

The striker is expected to return to face the allegations at a court in Senegal at a later date.

Senegalese international Diouf arrived in the Premier League in 2002, when Liverpool signed him from Lens for £10million.

He then moved to Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland before signing for Rovers in January 2009 for about £2million.