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CREDIT: IMAGO IMAGES

Liverpool’s Premier League opener last night was temporarily halted after it became clear to referee Antony Taylor that Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo had been racially abused.

A situation and an incident that should never have happened, and fortunately Merseyside Police confirmed following the game that the 47-year-old responsible for the incident had been removed from the stadium and subsequent action will be taken.

Antonie Semenyo showed immense bravery to come forward himself and report the racial abuse towards him.

Once being told by Semenyo, Anthony Taylor temporarily halted the game so that he could make both team’s coaches aware of what was said, including captain Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk has offered his full support to Semenyo, branding the continued abuse of players in football as “an absolute disgrace”.

“I’ve had loads of conversations with him (Semenyo) about it.”

“First and foremost, I wanted to know what happened and I am glad the authorities are dealing with it all, that is the main thing.”

“But we stand with him completely and I think every one of you here would say the same thing: these things can’t happen.

Especially the authorities have to deal with it now and like I said these things can’t happen, whatsoever.”

“I can’t believe it and I can say these things that it shouldn’t happen but unfortunately it does, and it is an absolute disgrace in my eyes.”

“These things should never happen in the world, not only football

I am happy to say I don’t see it happening up until today actually and that is why I say it is a disgrace that it could happen.”

“But in general racism is not of this world in my opinion, but if we are able to be realistic, unfortunately it still exists and that is the dangerous side of it.”

“We have to deal with it in the here and now and like I said, I am here for Antoine, whenever he needs it and we are here as a club to deal with it in the best way possible because it should not happen.”

The Bournemouth forward, despite the obvious challenges placed in front of him last night, still managed to score a brace and despite being on the losing side in the end, he did remarkably well to show such courage and strength to pull his team back into the game to begin with.

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