Former Liverpool star faces prison for failing to pay child support

Ex-striker El Hadji Diouf, who once played for Liverpool, is at risk of imprisonment after being accused of “neglecting his family” and failing to pay court-ordered child support.

According to The Sun (UK), Diouf is accused of not paying the monthly child support of £670 for his 17-year-old daughter Keyla since March 2024. To date, he owes about £14,000 (over 440 million VND).

Previously, after divorcing his ex-wife Valerie Bishop in 2023, the former Senegal international was ordered by the court to pay monthly child support and cover medical and educational expenses for his daughter. However, Bishop’s lawyer insists that Diouf “has the financial means but deliberately refuses to pay.”.

Lawyer Mame Adama Gueye, representing Bishop, stated: “El Hadji Diouf is fully capable financially. He lives comfortably, frequently traveling between Dakar and the Saly Portudal resort, yet he refuses to fulfill his obligations.”

Sources say Diouf did not attend the hearing in Dakar (Senegal) last Tuesday. Under Senegalese law, refusing to pay child support after divorce can be considered a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.

The Dakar court has issued a summons for Diouf to appear in court on December 5. If he continues to be absent or fails to meet his financial duties, the former player may face jail time according to Senegalese law.

El Hadji Diouf was once a proud figure in Senegalese football, shining brightly at the 2002 World Cup and helping the national team reach the quarter-finals. That performance earned him a £10 million transfer from Lens to Liverpool.

However, his time at Anfield (2002–2004) was disappointing. Diouf scored only 6 goals in 80 matches and was known for conflicts and disputes with teammates, especially the legend Steven Gerrard. In his 2007 autobiography, Gerrard criticized Diouf as “selfish and lacking team spirit.”.

In response, Diouf once declared: “Gerrard is jealous of me because I once had the world at my feet. He is selfish and only thinks about himself.”

Now at 44 years old, the former Senegal star continues to attract attention, not for football, but due to legal troubles that could see him answer in court back home.