A 47-year-old man from Liverpool has been arrested following alleged racial abuse directed towards Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League opener against Liverpool at Anfield. The incident occurred during the first half of the match on Friday, leading to a temporary halt in play.
Semenyo reported the abuse to referee Anthony Taylor, who stopped the game in the 29th minute. The referee then spoke with Liverpool boss Arne Slot and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, before play was paused. According to Sky Sports' Peter Drury, who was commentating on the game, Semenyo himself brought the racist comment to the referee's attention. A 47-year-old man was ejected from Anfield as a result of the incident.
Merseyside Police confirmed the arrest on Saturday, stating that the man is suspected of committing a racially-aggravated public order offence. The suspect has been taken into custody for questioning. Chief Inspector Kev Chatterton, the match commander for the game, stated that Merseyside Police has a zero-tolerance policy towards hate crimes and will be proactively seeking football banning orders against those responsible. He urged anyone who witnesses such offences to report them immediately to stewards or the police.
Following the match, Semenyo shared a screenshot on his Instagram story of racist comments, including monkey emojis, that he received. He captioned the post, "When will it stop?". Semenyo also expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the football community, stating that the messages reminded him why he loves the sport. He thanked his Bournemouth teammates, Liverpool players and fans, and Premier League officials for their support and professionalism. Despite the abuse, Semenyo scored two goals in the second half of the match, which ended in a 4-2 defeat for Bournemouth.
Liverpool Football Club has released a statement condemning racism and discrimination in all forms, stating that it has no place in society or football. The club has pledged its full support to the ongoing police investigation. The Premier League also released a statement confirming that its on-field anti-discrimination protocol was followed and that the incident will be fully investigated. The league offered its full support to Semenyo and both clubs, reiterating that racism has no place in the game or society and that they will continue working to ensure stadiums are inclusive and welcoming environments.
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith described the abuse as "totally unacceptable" and praised Semenyo's response. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he spoke with Semenyo during and after the match and affirmed his support. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot stated that the abuse was unacceptable and that the club would do everything to find the person responsible and help Semenyo. Sky Sports' Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher called the incident "despicable".
This incident follows recent reports of racist abuse directed at other footballers, including Tottenham's Mathys Tel, who received online abuse after missing a penalty in the Super Cup.
