Police have arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after Antoine Semenyo said he was abused during Liverpool’s match against Bournemouth.
The 25-year-old forward reported being insulted by a fan while he was waiting to take a throw-in during the Premier League opener last night.
Semenyo told match officials that someone had shouted a racist insult at him during the 28th minute of the tie, which was brought to a temporary halt as the alleged abuse was investigated.
A man was then identified by police and ejected from Anfield stadium.
A Merseryside Police spokesperson said: ‘We have arrested a man following reports racist abuse was directed towards Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo during his team’s Premier League fixture versus Liverpool at Anfield on Friday 15 August.
‘The suspect’s identity was confirmed and he was removed from the ground following the report.
‘A 47-year-old man from Liverpool has today (Saturday, August 16) been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. He has been taken into custody to be interviewed.’
Semenyo, who went on to score two goals in the game, wrote on X earlier today: ‘Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever – not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together.
Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused while he was waiting to take a throw-in during the match
Police were seen speaking to a spectator later in the match before they removed a man from Anfield stadium
Semenyo told match officials that somebody had shouted a racist insult at him during the 28th minute of the tie, which was brought to a temporary halt
‘To my Bournemouth teammates who supported me in that moment, to the Liverpool players and fans who showed their true character, to the Premier League officials who handled it professionally – thank you.
‘Football showed its best side when it mattered most. Scoring those two goals felt like speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch.
‘This is why I play – for moments like these, for my teammates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be.
‘The overwhelming messages of support from across the football world remind me why I love this sport. We keep moving forward, together.’
The reported abuse within Anfield last night was not the only incident brought to attention last night by Semenyo.
The Ghanian international also shared a screenshot of a comment which had been left under his most recent Instagram post, where a user had replied with a post of seven monkey emojis.
Sharing the image, Semenyo wrote: ‘When will it stop…’
When being interviewed after the match by Sky Sports, Bournemouth captain Adam Smith was visibly irate as he branded the alleged abuse of his teammate as ‘totally unacceptable’.
Semenyo said the game at Anfield will live with him forever ‘not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together’
He said: ‘[I’m] shocked that it happened in this day and age. It shouldn’t be happening. I don’t know how Ant has played on and come up with those goals.
‘I wanted him to react because that’s what I would have done. I would have gone straight over there, but it shows what type of man he is, to not react in the moment and to carry on. Coming up with those two goals shows the type of guy he is.
‘I felt angry. Shocked. I said to the referee that I wanted him removed immediately, but they had to go through a process and the police will sort it.
‘The Liverpool players were very supportive towards Antoine and the rest of the team. It was handled the right way, but I’m so angry.
‘We’ve had discussions with the Premier League about it, so they are taking it seriously. I don’t know what else we can do. We’ve been doing it for a long time now and no one is getting it. I don’t know what to say anymore.
‘I just feel sorry for Ant, that he’s had to take that tonight. The whole country is watching and for that to happen is shocking.’
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith (right) was visibly irate after the match as he branded the alleged abuse of his teammate as ‘totally unacceptable’
Chief Inspector Kev Chatterton, the match commander for the Liverpool vs Bournemouth game, said after last night’s alleged abuse that the force would ‘not tolerate hate crime of any form’.
He added: ‘We take incidents like this very seriously, and in cases like this we will be proactively seeking football banning orders, with the club, against those responsible.’
‘There is no place for racism and it is vital that anyone who witnesses such an offence reports it to stewards, or the police immediately, so we can take the necessary action like we did this evening.
‘As with all matches, we work very closely with both Liverpool and Everton FC to ensure the safety of the public, and the players.’
A spokesperson for Liverpool Football Club said it was aware of the allegation, adding: ‘We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society, or football.
‘The club is unable to comment further as tonight’s alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully.’
