A football supporter accused of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during Friday’s Premier League opener against Liverpool has been banned from every football stadium in Britain. The 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after the incident at Anfield. He was later released on conditional bail, according to Merseyside Police. The match was briefly halted in the first half after Semenyo reported the abuse to the referee. The 25-year-old Ghana international later thanked his teammates, Liverpool players, fans, and officials for their solidarity, saying “the entire football family stood together.” Despite the abuse, Semenyo went on to score two goals in Bournemouth’s eventual 4-2 defeat.
The Football Association and the Premier League have both launched investigations, stressing that racism will not be tolerated in the game. The incident comes amid a series of racism scandals across European football. On Monday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned two separate episodes of racist abuse during German Cup fixtures, calling them “unacceptable.” In one match, Schalke forward Christopher Antwi-Adjei said he was racially abused while playing against Lokomotive Leipzig, prompting police to open an investigation. In another, a Kaiserslautern substitute was targeted by fans at RSV Eintracht. Home and away supporters later joined together, chanting “Nazis out.”
Infantino said FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel would work closely with the German Football Federation (DFB) and reach out directly to Semenyo. “Football has no place for racism or any form of discrimination,” Infantino wrote, pledging stronger support for players subjected to abuse. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf also vowed action, stating: “Racism, discrimination, hatred and exclusion have no place in football. We stand for diversity and respect, and alongside those affected.” The latest incidents underline football’s continuing struggle with racism across leagues, despite repeated campaigns and stronger disciplinary measures.
