The Premier League season began with controversy as racist abuse toward Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo forced a temporary stoppage during Liverpool’s opening game at Anfield.
Referee Anthony Taylor paused the match in the 29th minute after Semenyo reported hearing abuse from the stands. He spoke with both managers, Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola, as well as the captains of each team before allowing play to continue a few minutes later.
Merseyside Police confirmed that a 47-year-old spectator was removed from the stadium for racially abusing Semenyo. Video clips circulated online showing a front-row supporter shouting aggressively at the striker during a throw-in.
Remarkably, Semenyo responded on the pitch by scoring both of Bournemouth’s goals in their 4-2 defeat against Liverpool. After the match, he shared a screenshot on Instagram of racist comments filled with monkey emojis, captioning it simply: “When will it stop.”
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith condemned the abuse and praised Semenyo’s composure. “I don’t know how Ant carried on and still scored,” he told reporters. “We are furious this is still happening.” Smith added that Liverpool players showed clear support for Semenyo during the game.
Liverpool issued a statement strongly denouncing racism and confirmed it was working with the police investigation. The Premier League also pledged its support for Semenyo and both clubs, releasing a statement that read: “Racism has no place in football or in society. We will continue to work with authorities to make sure stadiums remain safe and inclusive environments.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk spoke after the game, saying he had personally reached out to Semenyo during and after the match. Manager Arne Slot described the abuse as unacceptable at every level.
In recent years, the Premier League has encouraged players to take the knee before games as a stand against racism. But Adam Smith questioned the impact of such gestures, saying: “Taking a knee has not changed anything. More needs to be done.”
The investigation into the racist abuse at Anfield is still ongoing.
