Semenyo reports racist abuse in Premier League opener as police set to open investigation into the matter.
Police investigate after Antoine Semenyo reports racist abuse from Anfield crowd.
The claim that Antoine Semenyo, a forward for Bournemouth, was subjected to racial abuse during his team’s loss to Liverpool is being looked into by Merseyside police.
Three police officers led a guy in a wheelchair out of the stadium at halftime, while Semenyo claimed to have been subjected to racist taunts from a Liverpool supporter at Anfield.
The event ruined a night of heartfelt remembrances of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who died in a vehicle accident in July, and Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot was furious. Slot immediately went to comfort Semenyo following Liverpool’s thrilling 4-2 triumph.
A statement from Liverpool read: “Liverpool Football Club is aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth. We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society or football. The club is unable to comment further as tonight’s alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully.”
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola was equally critical about the incident. “It’s a shame that in the first game of the Premier League season, with two teams playing a really good game, we have to be talking about something that should be in the past but is not in the past,” said Iraola. “It is something that is still a big problem. Antoine was calm in the heat of the moment. We asked him if he could continue and he was composed but he is asking why these things are happening today? It is a shame.”
Slot claimed that Liverpool’s exhilarating victory and the heartfelt remembrances of Jota, which moved Mohamed Salah to tears after the game, should have been the main highlights of the evening.
“It is unacceptable in any stadium, especially Anfield,” said the Liverpool head coach. “It shouldn’t happen but unfortunately we definitely have to talk about it. It should be about Diogo and how the tributes were. I spoke to Antoine after the game and said the club will do everything we can to find the person responsible. Big credit to him if something happens to him and he can perform like this. He is not only a great player but very strong mentally. But it is unacceptable.”