Liverpool’s opening match on the new Premier League season was arrested after Antoine Semenyo de Bournemouth reported that he had been abused by a supporter in Anfield.
After half an hour from the match, referee Anthony Taylor interrupted the procedures and had a conversation with the fourth official, the manager of Liverpool, Arne Slot, and the director of Bournemouth Andoni Iraola. Captains Virgil van Dijk and Adam Smith and the rest of the teams were informed of what had happened before the game resumed.
The television cameras showed Semenyo, 25, informing Taylor of the racist commentary of a member of the Anfield crowd while Liverpool was preparing to take a corner, just before the referee stops the game.
An anti-discrimination message was read at the crowd once the half-time whistle had blown.
Merseyside police confirmed that an investigation was underway.
“We can confirm that a 47 -year -old man was ejected from the Anfield stadium following racist abuse reports led to the Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo during the opening match of the season between Liverpool and Bournemouth,” said in a statement.
“An investigation is underway after confirmation of the identity of man and has been removed from the soil.
The chief inspector Kev Chatterton added: “The Merseyside police will not tolerate the crime of hatred of any form.” We take incidents like this very seriously, and in cases like this, we will proactively seek the orders of football prohibition, with the club, against the officials.
“There is no room for racism and it is essential that whoever witnesses such an offense reports to the delegates, or to the police immediately, so that we can take the necessary measures as we did this evening.
“As with all matches, we are working closely with Liverpool and Everton FC to ensure the security of the public and the players.”
Taylor speaks with the two managers during the judgment (Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images)
After the match, Smith said on the incident: “It’s totally unacceptable. I am in a way in shock, to be honest. This should not happen today. I do not know how Ant (Semenyo) played to be honest, and I am in the process of finding these goals. I’m just sorry for Ant.
“To be honest, I wanted him to react. This is what I would have done. I would have gone directly there. But it just shows what type of man it is: not to react when it happened, to continue, so he brought it to the ref. To achieve these objectives shows what type of guys he is and what character he has. Fair played in the ant. “
“I’m more angry to be honest and shocked,” said Smith. “Obviously, I told the referee that I wanted him to be removed immediately, but you have to go through a process and that the police will enter and sort it.
“We had discussions with the Premier League on this subject, so they took it seriously. But I was talking to some of the guys in there, and I don’t know what we can do. We have been doing it for a long time, and nobody gets it. I don’t know what to say.
This evening match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily interrupted during the first half after a discriminatory abuse report, led by Antoine Semenyo de Bournemouth. This complies with the Premier League field …
– Premier League match center (@plmatchcentre) August 15, 2025
Liverpool published a statement after the match, saying: “We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms; It has no place in society or football. The club is unable to comment more because the alleged incident of tonight is the subject of an in progress police investigation, which we will fully support. ”
One Sky Sports expert, Gary Neville, said: “This eclipses what should be an incredible night. The first match of the Premier League season, a beautiful day, 62,000 fans in the stadium and this boy was racily abused and had to go to a referee and complain about it.
“It’s contemptible. I can’t even start thinking about what will go through someone’s mind. However, it happens, it will continue to happen, and it’s a sorry state.”
The football association also declared that they were “very concerned” by the incident, affirming in a press release: “The incidents of this nature have their place in our game and we will work closely with the leaders of the match, the clubs and the competent authorities to establish the facts and guarantee that the appropriate measures are taken.”
Semenyo scored two goals in the second half in Liverpool’s 4-2 victory.
(Top Photo: Michael Steele / Getty Images)
