During the Premier League opening match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield, the game was paused in the 28th minute after Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by a spectator in the crowd. A 47-year-old man was subsequently ejected from the stadium, with Merseyside Police confirming an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Referee Anthony Taylor halted play and spoke with both managers — Liverpool's Arne Slot and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola — as well as the team captains, Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) and Adam Smith (Bournemouth), about the abuse. Liverpool staff and police maintained discussions at the side of the pitch, and before the second half, a fan was escorted out by officers. An anti-discrimination message was also read to the Anfield spectators.
Virgil van Dijk reacted publicly, showing solidarity with Semenyo and supporting the Premier League's anti-discrimination measures. Bournemouth captain Adam Smith described the abuse as “unacceptable,” while manager Iraola expressed deep disappointment, emphasizing that racism remains a significant problem beyond football.
Semenyo also disclosed receiving racist abuse on Instagram following the match, sharing some of the messages with the caption, "When will it stop…". Meta has confirmed it is investigating the offensive social media accounts, removing hate comments and disabling accounts responsible for the abuse.
The Premier League released a statement affirming its commitment to tackling discrimination, announcing a full investigation into the incident. It reiterated that racism has no place in football or society and pledged continued collaboration with stakeholders and authorities to ensure stadiums remain inclusive and welcoming environments.
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