Man pleads guilty to stalking Liverpool FC women's team player

A man has pleaded guilty to stalking Liverpool FC women’s team player Marie Hobinger with inappropriate and sexualised messages.

Mangal Dalal, 42, of Hyde Park Gardens, in Westminster London, repeatedly sent messages to the player via Instagram between 27 January 2025 and 16 February 2025.

The messages were often sexually explicit and included his mobile number and postcode. He asked her to visit him and implied he would come to football games to see her.

Ms Hobinger became increasingly concerned and blocked him and informed Liverpool FC.

However, on 16 February, Dalal travelled to an LFC women’s team away game in Manchester and waited at the pitch side once the game had finished.

A steward at the ground spotted Dalal and alerted LFC’s safety officer who had started travelling to matches with Ms Hobinger because of concerns for her safety. Dalal was identified as the stalker.

He was later questioned by police and, in a prepared statement, admitted to the conduct but said that he was mentally unwell at the time.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge of stalking and on Thursday 4 December 2025, Dala pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. He will be sentenced on 20 January 2026 at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

In a statement, Ms Hobinger described how the messages had made her feel nervous and worried, even in her own home, and that her performance in games had been affected due to concern that Dalal might be at the game.

She expressed disappointment that the women’s game should be sexualised and said no woman should have to put up with this sort of behaviour.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah McInerney said: “Marie Hobinger is a talented professional sportswoman at the top of her game.

“Mangal Dalal targeted her and treated her as an object that he could use to air his fantasies.

“His messaging was intense, continual, and totally inappropriate. It had a serious impact on the player who was simply trying to play to the best of her ability in a sport and team that she loves.

“Dalal’s behaviour was criminal and will not be tolerated in a fair and equal society. We would like to thank Ms Hobinger and Liverpool FC for their help in bringing Dalal to justice.”