Ghana soccer player Semenyo suffers racial abuse in English Premier League

Antoine Semenyo was racially abused

By Emmanuel Akyereko
(Managing Editor)

Referee Anthony Taylor halted the 2025/26 English Premier League opening game between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield after Ghana attacker Antoine Semenyo was subjected to a racial abuse by someone in the stands.

After the game, the 25-year-old took to his Instagram account to post: When will it stop?

Referee Taylor invited Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and his Bournemouth counterpart Adam Smith to the bench on the 29th minute and briefed them of the incident before the game resumed 4 minutes later.

Bournemouth skipper Smith said in his post-match interview that he was “shocked” by the incident and “something needs to be done”.

An anti-discrimination message was read out to the crowd inside Anfield once the half-time whistle had blown.

Liverpool, external also issued a statement after the game: “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.