Former Liverpool player El Hadji Diouf receives a suspended prison sentence
Former Liverpool and Senegal star El Hadji Diouf has been given a suspended prison sentence for not paying nearly £14,000 in child support to his ex-wife.
Diouf is well-known for his great play at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he helped Senegal reach the quarter-finals. His strong performances earned him a move to Premier League club Liverpool, where he played 80 times.
However, off the field, Diouf had some problems. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard later said in his 2015 book that Diouf was the player he liked least among Liverpool signings. Gerrard said Diouf didn’t really care about football or respect the club and fans.
Diouf was loaned to Bolton Wanderers and later joined them permanently in 2005. After that, he played for several other British teams including Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Rangers, Doncaster Rovers, and Leeds United. He ended his playing career in 2015 with Sabah FA in Malaysia.
Since retiring, the 45-year-old has stayed involved with football by working in the media and staying connected with the Senegal national team.
Away from football, Diouf has faced legal troubles involving his ex-wife, Valerie Bishop. He was called to appear in a Senegalese court in November 2025.
The Sun first reported that Diouf could face jail after missing child support payments following their divorce in 2023. On May 14, it was reported that he received a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to pay Bishop ten million West African francs, about £13,220.
Bishop has custody of their 17-year-old daughter, Keyla. Diouf was supposed to pay around £670 a month for school fees and medical costs. Bishop said he stopped paying in March 2024.
Her lawyers told the court that Diouf could afford the payments because of his income from ads, property, and work with Senegal’s football association.
Diouf missed several court hearings before the sentence was given.