Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net
Referee Anthony Taylor speaks with both managers, Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola, after Antoine Semenyo reported racist abuse from a member of the crowd (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))
The Premier League have confirmed that play was halted in Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth following a report of discriminatory abuse against Antoine Semenyo from the crowd.
The scores were level at 0-0 when referee Anthony Taylor temporarily stopped play on the half-hour mark and approached head coaches Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola.
While the reason for the stoppage was unclear at the time, it later emerged that Bournemouth forward Semenyo had brought the incident to Taylor’s attention.
Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury would later reveal that the reason for the pause in play was due to alleged racist comment from the crowd.
READ MORE:Jamie Carragher and Alan Shearer agree amid red card controversy in Liverpool vs BournemouthREAD MORE:Liverpool complete £26m Giovanni Leoni transfer as summer spending rockets past £300m
"I am told, via the Premier League Match Centre, Antoine Semenyo was subject to a racist comment from a member of the crowd,” Drury revealed.
“What I can tell you is that it was Semenyo who brought it to the referee's attention himself."
The Premier League Match Centre would later verify the reason for the pause in play themselves on social media, confirming that there had been a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd against Semenyo, with Taylor then following on-field protocol.
Article continues below
They also confirmed that the incident will be fully investigated as they offered their full support to Semenyo and both clubs.
Posting on Twitter, the Premier League Match Centre said: “Tonight's match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo.
“This is in line with the Premier League's on-field anti-discrimination protocol.
Article continues below
“The incident at Anfield will now be fully investigated.