A 47-year-old man has been banned from all football stadiums across the United Kingdom after being arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo.
The incident happened during Bournemouth’s opening Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield last Friday. The match was briefly stopped in the 29th minute after Semenyo raised concerns with the referee about racist abuse directed at him from the stands.
Merseyside Police confirmed the arrest on Saturday, stating that the suspect, a Liverpool resident, was detained on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. He has since been released on conditional bail, which prohibits him from attending any regulated football match in the UK or going within one mile of any designated stadium. Investigations remain ongoing, with police working closely alongside Liverpool Football Club.
Semenyo, a 25-year-old Ghana international, later took to social media to share his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received in the aftermath of the incident. “The night at Anfield will stay with me forever because of how the football family stood together,” he wrote, thanking his teammates, Liverpool players, fans, and Premier League officials “for handling the matter professionally.”
Despite the disruption, the game resumed after a four-minute pause. Semenyo went on to score twice for Bournemouth, though his side eventually lost 4-2 to Liverpool.
The Premier League has since confirmed that it will be conducting its own investigation, while the Football Association (FA) issued a strong statement condemning the abuse. “Incidents of this nature have no place in our game,” the FA said, adding that it would work with match officials, clubs, and law enforcement to ensure appropriate action is taken.
The case has once again highlighted the continued fight against racism in football and the need for tougher measures to protect players.
