Man Arrested in Racist Abuse Probe Following Semenyo’s Anfield Report

A man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence following reports of racist abuse targeting AFC Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo during Friday’s Premier League opener at Anfield. The 47-year-old Liverpool man was identified and removed from the stadium during the match before being taken into custody for questioning on Saturday.

The incident occurred in the 29th minute of the game against Liverpool, prompting referee Anthony Taylor to briefly halt play in line with the Premier League’s anti-discrimination protocol. Semenyo, who went on to score twice in Bournemouth’s 4-2 loss, has since shared a powerful statement on Instagram. He expressed gratitude for the widespread support received, stating, “Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever – not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together.” He specifically thanked his teammates, Liverpool players and fans, and Premier League officials for their professional handling of the situation.

Both the Premier League and the Football Association have confirmed they are conducting investigations into the incident, reiterating their zero-tolerance stance on discrimination. Anti-discrimination body Kick It Out praised Semenyo’s courage in reporting the abuse and commended the refereeing team’s swift action. The incident cast a shadow over a poignant match for Liverpool, which included tributes to forward Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car crash in July.

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