Dalal pleaded guilty to stalking Hobinger last week, according to a press release from the Crown Prosecution Service.
The case is scheduled to be transferred to Westminster Court for sentencing in January 2026.
Dalal, 42, bombarded Hobinger, 24, with sexually suggestive messages on Instagram between Jan. 27 and Feb. 16, 2025.
He shared his phone number and postcode with the Austrian international and repeatedly invited her to meet him, hinting that he would attend her matches.
Hobinger reported the incident to Liverpool and blocked all contact from Dalal. However, the harassment escalated on Feb. 16, when Dalal traveled over 320 km from his home in London to Manchester to watch Liverpool play Manchester City at the Joie Stadium.
After the match, security spotted him standing near the touchline. Police were called to the scene, and Dalal admitted to stalking but claimed he was experiencing mental health issues.
Marie Hobinger receives the Player of The Month award in October 2023. Photo by Liverpool FC |
Dalal, a divorced man who owns a $5 million home in Marylebone, London, appeared at Sefton Court in Liverpool. He was granted bail with a strict order prohibiting him from contacting Hobinger or posting any information about her on social media.
According to the indictment, Dalal’s actions caused serious psychological distress to the player.
Prosecutor Sarah McInerney told the court, as quoted by Daily Mail: “Marie Hobinger is a talented professional sportswoman at the top of her game. Dalal targeted her and treated her as an object that he could use to air his fantasies. His messaging was intense, continual, and totally inappropriate. It had a serious impact on the player who was simply trying to play to the best of her ability in a sport and team that she loves.”
Dalal’s lawyer Daniel Lister argued that his client had previously sought help for mental health issues, having contacted the 111 emergency service for assistance.
“At the time of offending, he was in the midst of a mental health crisis that has now been treated,” Lister said.
However, Judge James Clarke requested a consultation with the prosecution before making a final decision, emphasizing that a fine alone would not be sufficient punishment given the severity of the behavior.
Hobinger joined Liverpool from FC Zurich Frauen in July 2023, where she won two league titles and the Swiss Women’s Cup. Her season was cut short in October 2025 when she suffered a cruciate ligament injury, sidelining her for the remainder of the campaign.
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