Liverpool issues statement after Antoine Semenyo racial abuse

[1/2]Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - August 15, 2025 AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo in action with Liverpool's Milos Kerkez REUTERS/Peter Powell Purchase Licensing Rights

By Emmanuel Akyereko
(Managing Editor)

English Premier League giants Liverpool have issued a statement after it emerged that someone in the Anfield crowd directed racial abuse at Ghana international Semenyo during the 2025/26 Premier League opener between Liverpool and Bournemouth.

Referee Anthony Taylor halted the game on the 29th minute after he was noticed by the 25-year-old London-born that someone in the crowd had subjected him to a racial abuse.

The referee 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.

Liverpool, external 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.

“The club is unable to comment further as tonight’s alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully.”

Reds head coach Arne Slot told Sky Sports: “The club made a clear statement. We don’t want this in football, we don’t want this happening in stadiums, especially not at Anfield. “We should talk about this for a long time because we do not want this at Anfield. It takes the shine off it (game) a bit because our fans were amazing, especially with the tributes to Diogo.”