Former Liverpool Star El Hadji Diouf Faces Jail Over Unpaid Child Support
Sports Updated: 06 November 2025 16:27 EAT
Former Senegal international El Hadji Diouf is facing possible jail time after being accused of failing to pay court-ordered child maintenance to his ex-wife, Valerie Bishop. According to court documents in Dakar, the former Liverpool and Rangers striker was ordered to pay 500,000 CFA francs (about £670) per month for the upkeep of their daughter following their 2023 divorce.
Reports from Senegalese outlets including Seneweb and Afrik.com indicate that Diouf stopped making the monthly payments in March 2024, leading to arrears of nearly 10 million CFA francs (around £13,000). His ex-wife has also filed for 20 million CFA francs in damages for moral and material prejudice to their child.
Under Article 351 of Senegal’s Penal Code, deliberately refusing to pay court-ordered child support is a criminal offence that can result in imprisonment. The case has been filed before the Dakar High Court, with a hearing scheduled for December 5, 2025, where Diouf is expected to respond to the charges.
Diouf, 44, has not publicly commented on the matter. The retired footballer, who featured for Liverpool, Bolton, and Leeds United, currently serves as a goodwill ambassador for Senegal’s football federation. No ruling has yet been issued in the ongoing case.
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FELIX MAKONA
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