Liverpool – A 47-year-old man from Merseyside has been prohibited from attending football matches across the United Kingdom following his arrest on suspicion of racially abusing AFC Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo.
Merseyside Police confirmed the arrest on Saturday, citing a racially aggravated public order offence. The man has been released on conditional bail, which bars him from attending any regulated football match in the UK and from coming within one mile of designated stadiums.
The alleged incident occurred during the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday, 15 August. Referee Anthony Taylor temporarily halted the match in the 29th minute after Semenyo raised concerns about the abuse.
After the game, Semenyo shared on X, formerly Twitter, that the experience “will stay with me forever – not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together.” Players from both clubs and the Premier League publicly condemned all forms of racism.
Merseyside Police said investigations are ongoing, with close cooperation from Liverpool FC. The Premier League also confirmed its Matchday Observer Programme monitors supporter behaviour at all 380 fixtures, documenting discriminatory incidents and providing follow-up support.
Fans witnessing racism or discrimination at stadiums or online are encouraged to report it through the League’s dedicated platform at preml.ge/reportracism.
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