Player targeted by vile slur mid-match; Police probe began as Semenyo stunned the crowd with goals

During Liverpool’s Premier League opener last night at Anfield, Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo courageously reported racist abuse hurled at him from the crowd. The match halted in the 28th–29th minute, when referee Anthony Taylor halted play and calmly spoke to both team managers, Arne Slot (Liverpool) and Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), then consulted captains before resuming the game.

Liverpool’s stadium echoed with a chilling anti-discrimination message at half-time. Meanwhile, a 47-year-old man was removed from the ground, his identity later confirmed, as Merseyside Police launched a full investigation. Chief Inspector Kev Chatterton stressed that no one should tolerate hate crime and flagged that football banning orders could follow.

Despite the emotional rollercoaster, Semenyo remained composed. The Ghana international found the net twice in the second half, drawing Bournemouth level before Liverpool ultimately clinched a 4-2 victory. His performance won praise from both camps: Slot lauded his mental strength, describing the abuse as “unacceptable” at any stadium, let alone Anfield. Iraola echoed those sentiments, describing the incident as a shame that would overshadow what should have been a clean start to the season

Liverpool issued a strong statement, condemning racism in all forms and pledging full cooperation with the investigation. The Premier League affirmed that the incident triggered its on-field anti-discrimination protocol and promised a thorough probe. The Football Association also expressed deep concern and vowed to work with authorities and match officials to ensure the right action follows

In-stadium tributes had marked a deeply emotional evening, as fans paid homage to the late Diogo Jota and his brother, making the racist incident all the more jarring Rather than mar the performance, the abuse sparked an outpouring of unity. Teammate Adam Smith voiced disbelief and support, stating, “It’s totally unacceptable… I feel for Ant,” while praising his strength of character

In the wake of the incident, attention now shifts to ensuring Anfield and other stadiums remain safe spaces. Authorities, clubs, and governing bodies must act decisively so that acts of bigotry never overshadow the game again.