Ex-Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf faces jail over child support case
Thekabarnews.com—For the football fans of the early 2000s, El Hadji Diouf was one of the most discussed names in world football. His rise began during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. At that tournament, he...
Thekabarnews.com—For the football fans of the early 2000s, El Hadji Diouf was one of the most discussed names in world football.
His rise began during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. At that tournament, he played a major role in helping Senegal shock the football world. They reached the quarter-finals in their debut World Cup appearance.
His impressive performances had attracted the attention of top European clubs. As a result, Liverpool FC quickly moved to sign him from RC Lens for around £10 million, or roughly Rp235 billion at the time.
There were plenty who thought Diouf would become the new Reds’ goal machine. Instead, his time at Anfield became one of the biggest disappointments of that time for the club.
Diouf made 55 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, scoring only three goals and failing to meet expectations both on and off the field.
After leaving Liverpool, he played for several other clubs. These included Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland AFC, Blackburn Rovers, Rangers FC, Doncaster Rovers, and Leeds United. Eventually, he retired in Malaysia with Sabah FC.
He remained a controversial figure at Liverpool. Diouf was once publicly branded the worst teammate club legend Jamie Carragher had ever had in his entire career at Anfield.
But Diouf is back in the headlines years after walking away from the limelight—but for legal reasons, not football.
The ex-Senegal international has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence for failing to pay nearly £14,000 (about Rp290 million) in child support arrears, The Sun reports.
It is said that the case was filed after his ex-wife Valerie Bishop filed a lawsuit against him. She did this for not fulfilling her financial obligations after their divorce in 2023.
Court documents say Diouf stopped making payments in March 2024. Now the court has ordered the 45-year-old ex-footballer to cough up £13,220 in two years of unpaid support straight away.
On average, the unpaid amount is around Rp12 million a month for two years. If Diouf does not pay the full amount, he could face actual prison rather than a suspended sentence.
For many football fans, the image of the fearless forward stands in stark contrast to this case. He once carried Senegal’s hopes on the biggest stage in world football.
El Hadji Diouf’s fall from World Cup hero to courtroom headlines is a reminder that life after football can be a lot harder than the game.
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