Merseyside Police have arrested a 47-year-old man from Liverpool after Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused during Friday night’s Premier League opener at Anfield.
The incident occurred in the 29th minute of the match, prompting referee Anthony Taylor to halt play briefly.
The individual accused of directing abuse towards the Ghana international was swiftly ejected from the stadium before later being taken into custody on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. He is now being questioned by police.
Semenyo, 25, later revealed that he was also targeted with racist messages on Instagram following the game, sharing screenshots of the abuse with the caption: “When will it stop?”
Despite the incident, the Bournemouth forward delivered a standout performance, scoring twice in his side’s 4-2 defeat to Liverpool.
Writing on social media the following day, Semenyo described the night as unforgettable, not because of the abuse, but because of the solidarity he experienced.
“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 @afcb team-mates who supported me in that moment, to the @liverpoolfc players and fans who showed their true character, to the @premierleague officials who handled it professionally – thank you. Football showed its best side when it mattered most.”
He added that his goals were his way of “speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch” and expressed gratitude for the widespread messages of support he has since received from across the football community.
“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 team-mates, 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.”
Both clubs and the Premier League have strongly condemned the abuse, with the league confirming it has launched a full investigation into the incident.
