Former Liverpool and Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf has received a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of failing to pay almost £14,000 in child maintenance to his former wife.
Diouf, who rose to global prominence at the 2002 FIFA World Cup after guiding Senegal to the quarter-finals, earned a high-profile transfer to Liverpool, where he made 80 appearances.
However, his spell at Anfield was heavily criticised, with former teammate Steven Gerrard later naming him in his autobiography as one of his least-favoured signings, claiming Diouf showed little commitment to football or respect for the club and supporters.
After leaving Liverpool, Diouf had a spell on loan at Bolton Wanderers before joining them permanently in 2005. He went on to play for several clubs across the UK, including Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Rangers, Doncaster Rovers, and Leeds United, before retiring in 2015 after a stint in Malaysia with Sabah FA.
Since retiring, the 45-year-old has stayed connected to football through media work and involvement with Senegal’s national team setup. However, his post-playing career has also been marked by legal troubles involving his ex-wife, Valerie Bishop.
He was summoned before a Senegalese court in November 2025 following allegations that he failed to meet child maintenance obligations after their 2023 divorce. Reports indicated he was accused of missing payments intended to cover their daughter Keyla’s education and medical expenses.
On Thursday, it was reported that Diouf was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay approximately £13,220 to Bishop. The court had previously granted Bishop custody of their 17-year-old daughter.
Her legal representatives argued that Diouf had the financial ability to meet the payments due to income from advertising, property ventures, and roles linked to Senegal’s football federation. Diouf also reportedly failed to attend several court hearings before the ruling was issued.
