Merseyside police are investigating an allegation that the Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo was racially abused during his team’s defeat at Liverpool.
Semenyo reported being racially abused by a Liverpool fan at Anfield, and a man in a wheelchair was escorted out of the stadium at half-time by three police officers.
Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, was incensed that the incident had detracted from a night of emotional tributes to the late Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, who were killed in a car accident in July. Slot went to console Semenyo immediately after Liverpool’s dramatic 4-2 victory.
A statement from Liverpool read: “Liverpool Football Club is aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth. 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.”
Andoni Iraola, the Bournemouth head coach, said Semenyo was upset after the game but praised the Ghana international for maintaining his composure and scoring two fine goals at Anfield to draw the visitors level. “It’s a shame that in the first game of the Premier League season, with two teams playing a really good game, we have to be talking about something that should be in the past but is not in the past,” said Iraola. “It is something that is still a big problem. Antoine was calm in the heat of the moment. We asked him if he could continue and he was composed but he is asking why these things are happening today? It is a shame.”
Semenyo later shared another racist message he had received on his Instagram account, accompanied by the message: “When will it stop......”
Slot said the night should have been all about the emotional tributes to Jota, which left Mohamed Salah in tears after the game, and Liverpool’s thrilling victory. “It is unacceptable in any stadium, especially Anfield,” said the Liverpool head coach. “It shouldn’t happen but unfortunately we definitely have to talk about it. It should be about Diogo and how the tributes were. I spoke to Antoine after the game and said the club will do everything we can to find the person responsible. Big credit to him if something happens to him and he can perform like this. He is not only a great player but very strong mentally. But it is unacceptable.”
