Man sentenced for stalking Liverpool FC women’s player

A man has been sentenced for stalking Liverpool FC women’s player Marie Höbinger 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 Höbinger 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 Höbinger 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, Dalal pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

On 20 January 2026 at Westminster Magistrates' Court he was ordered to pay £764 in court costs and an 18-month community order was imposed. Dalal must also complete 25 days of a Rehabilitation Activity.

A Restraining Order was applied for by the Crown Prosecution Service and was granted by the court. It states Dalal must not contact or approach Marie Höbinger, directly or indirectly and via electronic means, including all social media.

He must not enter Melwood Training Ground or Liverpool FC Women's home football matches, and other specified areas. This order lasts until 19 January 2028.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah McInerney said: “Mangal Dalal targeted Marie Höbinger, a talented professional sportswoman, and treated her as an object that he could use to air his fantasies.

“His messaging was intense, continual, totally inappropriate and criminal and he has now faced the consequences.

“Marie Höbinger had the courage to report the abuse she had suffered and supported this prosecution. No doubt there are other women in the public eye that face this sort of stalking or harassment.

"This cannot be tolerated in a fair and equal society.

“The Crown Prosecution Service hopes this successful prosecution encourages those women to report what is happening to them. We will work with the police to stamp this out and bring those responsible to justice."