Semenyo abuser banned from attending football stadiums
The man racially abused Antoine Semenyo has been banned from every football grounds in the UK
A 47-year-old man from Liverpool has been banned from attending any football match in the UK following his arrest on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League season opener at Anfield.
The incident occurred during Bournemouth’s clash with Liverpool on Friday, when play was briefly halted in the 29th minute after Semenyo alerted the referee to the abuse. Merseyside Police confirmed the man was arrested the following day on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and has since been conditionally bailed.
As part of his bail conditions, the individual is prohibited from attending any regulated football match across the UK and must not come within one mile of any designated football stadium.
Police stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that they are working closely with Liverpool Football Club to address the matter.
Despite the distressing incident, Semenyo showed remarkable composure and resilience. The 25-year-old Ghanaian international not only continued playing but also scored twice to bring Bournemouth level at 2-2. His efforts were ultimately in vain, as late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah sealed a 4-2 victory for Liverpool.
Semenyo later took to social media, expressing that the night at Anfield would stay with him forever, not because of the abuse, but because of the solidarity shown by the football community. He thanked his teammates, Liverpool players and fans, as well as Premier League officials, for their professional handling of the situation.
“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.
“To my Bournemouth team-mates 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.”
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