Liverpool Women's Player 'Anxious and Scared' After Being Stalked with Vile Explicit Messages

Marie Hobinger, a 24-year-old midfielder for Liverpool FC Women, endured a harrowing stalking ordeal that left her feeling anxious and scared, significantly impacting her daily life and performance on the pitch.[1][2][3][4]

Between January 27 and February 16, 2025, 42-year-old Mangal Dalal from Hyde Park Gardens, Westminster, London, bombarded Hobinger with sexually explicit messages via Instagram using two accounts. The vile content included pictures of his underwear, pleas like "Please can you f*** me?", declarations of wanting to "have babies with you", and suggestions to "rip her shorts off". He shared his mobile number, postcode, and invited her to visit him, even implying he would attend her matches.[1][2][3][4]

Growing increasingly alarmed, Hobinger blocked Dalal and alerted Liverpool FC. Despite this, on February 16, 2025, he appeared pitch-side after Liverpool's 4-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. A steward spotted him, notifying the club's safety officer—who had begun escorting Hobinger due to safety concerns. Dalal was identified, questioned by police, and admitted the conduct, claiming mental unwellness.[1][2][3]

In her victim impact statement at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Hobinger revealed the profound toll: struggling to sleep alone at home, fearing every noise, a flare-up of a skin condition from stress, and distraction during games. "I felt uncomfortable... my thoughts were not on my game... Fans taking pictures made me insecure," she said. "I love matchdays—this should be when I feel confident and strong... It makes me sad that women’s football is sexualised and disrespected. No woman should endure this."[3][4]

Dalal pleaded guilty to stalking on December 4, 2025, at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. On January 20, 2026, District Judge Hina Rai sentenced him to an 18-month community order, 25 days of rehabilitation, a £764 court fine, and a two-year restraining order barring him from Liverpool's training ground (Melwood), St Helens, or Anfield. Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah McInerney condemned his actions as "criminal", treating Hobinger "as an object for his fantasies" with "persistent, intense" messaging that harmed a "talented professional". Liverpool FC provided exemplary support.[1][2][3][4]

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