A man has been banned from attending football matches across the United Kingdom after allegedly racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during Friday’s Premier League opener against Liverpool at Anfield.
The match was briefly halted in the first half after Semenyo reported the incident to the referee. Merseyside Police confirmed on Monday that a 47-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested the following day on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
He has since been released on bail, with conditions that bar him from attending any regulated football match in the UK or coming within one mile of any stadium. Police added that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Despite the abuse, Semenyo, 25, delivered a standout performance, scoring twice as Bournemouth fought back from two goals down, though Liverpool eventually won 4-2.
The Ghana international later expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown. “Football showed its best side when it mattered most,” Semenyo wrote on social media, thanking his teammates, Liverpool players, fans, and Premier League officials “who handled it professionally.”
