Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia has accused his club, Salernitana, of lying about the events that led to his suspension and legal troubles.
Speaking to L’Équipe, the forward disputed claims made by the club and former coach Fabio Liverani, who alleged he refused to come on as a substitute during a Serie A match.
Dia, once hailed as a hero by Salernitana fans for his 16-goal campaign in the 2022-23 season, has found himself sidelined and embroiled in controversy this year.
After being permanently signed last summer following a successful loan spell, his season has been marred by injuries and now this public fallout with the club.
The Incident at Udinese
The tension between Dia and Salernitana reached a boiling point on March 2 during a match against Udinese.
Liverani claimed the 27-year-old refused to enter the game in the 80th minute, an action that the coach labeled as unacceptable.
“He refused to come on the pitch,” Liverani said. “I’ve taken note of it, and so has the club. It’s a definitive choice. I now know that he’s someone I can’t count on.”
Dia, however, vehemently denies this version of events. “There’s been too much false information, too many lies, and I want to set the record straight,” he told L’Équipe. “I’ve never refused to go on, and I have teammates ready to testify.”
According to Dia, he merely nodded when asked to warm up, not realizing he would be called upon given the lack of prior preparation.
He claims Liverani interpreted his gesture as disinterest and immediately sent another player to warm up instead.
The incident was then addressed privately in the dressing room, only for Liverani to bring it up publicly during the post-match press conference.
Legal Dispute and Club Allegations
Salernitana escalated the issue by filing a complaint against Dia, seeking €20 million in damages and imposing a 50% salary cut until the season ends.
The striker criticized the club’s approach, saying, “They blamed me and then turned around and wanted to mediate so I could play again. It’s unfair and dishonest.”
Future Uncertain
Dia, who has scored just four goals in 17 league appearances this season, has not played since February 24.
Under contract until 2026, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winner remains uncertain about his future at the club.
The forward’s explosive revelations leave Salernitana with questions to answer, as the legal battle and internal tensions cast a shadow over their campaign.
