Footballer hires security after stalking incident
A Women’s Super League footballer was forced to employ a personal safety officer after being subjected to a stalking campaign by a wealthy London businessman, a court has heard, reports BritPanorama.
Marie Hobinger, the 24-year-old Liverpool midfielder, was targeted by entrepreneur Mangal Dalal, 42, who bombarded her with sexualised messages via Instagram. He shared his telephone number and postcode while soliciting her to visit him.
Dalal, a divorced businessman from a £3.8 million Marylebone townhouse, has admitted to stalking Hobinger. He claimed to have been facing mental health challenges during the period of offending, which occurred between late January and mid-February this year.
Despite blocking him online, Hobinger reported the unwanted contact to Liverpool Football Club. However, on 16 February, Dalal travelled over 200 miles to attend a Liverpool fixture against Manchester City, positioning himself at the edge of the pitch as the final whistle blew.
A steward alerted the club’s safety officer, who had begun accompanying Hobinger to matches due to mounting concerns for her welfare. Police were subsequently called, and during questioning, Dalal confessed to the offence, citing his mental state as a mitigating factor.
Prosecutor Sarah McInerney described Hobinger as “a talented professional sportswoman at the top of her game,” who had been treated as an object for Dalal’s fantasies. She characterised his messaging as “intense, continual, and totally inappropriate,” noting it had a deep impact on Hobinger, who simply aims to excel in her sport.
The prosecution presented substantial evidence indicating premeditation in Dalal’s actions, including his journey to Manchester and the deliberate positioning beside the playing surface. McInerney noted the anxiety Hobinger continues to experience and her necessity for a safety officer to accompany her during travel.
Defence barrister Daniel Lister argued that Dalal had been in the midst of a mental health crisis, which has since been addressed. He suggested that a financial penalty might be appropriate due to Dalal’s lack of prior convictions.
Nonetheless, District Judge James Clarke dismissed this proposal, stating the case was not suitable for a fine. The judge requested involvement from the probation service for potential recommendations and scheduled a sentencing hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court for 20 January.
Currently sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Hobinger joined Liverpool from FC Zurich Frauen in July 2023, having won two Swiss league titles. This incident underscores the troubling intersection of celebrity and personal safety in the world of sports, reminding us that even athletes at the peak of their powers are not immune to unwanted attention.
