A 47-year-old man from Liverpool has been arrested after Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo was subjected to racist abuse during Friday night’s Premier League opener at Anfield, Merseyside Police have confirmed.
The suspect was detained on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and remains in custody for questioning.
The incident occurred in the 29th minute of the first half when Semenyo reported the abuse to referee Anthony Taylor, prompting a brief stoppage in play. The man was immediately ejected from the stadium.
Semenyo, who later revealed he also received racist messages on Instagram, shared screenshots of the abuse with the caption: “When will it stop?”
Despite the distressing episode, the 25-year-old Ghana international responded with a memorable performance, scoring twice in Bournemouth’s 4-2 defeat to Liverpool.
In a heartfelt message on social media, Semenyo described the night as unforgettable—not because of the abuse, but because of the unity shown across football.
"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.
"To my @afcb team-mates who supported me in that moment, to the @liverpoolfc players and fans who showed their true character, to the @premierleague officials who handled it professionally - thank you. Football showed its best side when it mattered most."
Semenyo added that his two goals were his way of responding on the pitch: "Scoring those two goals felt like speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch. This is why I play - for moments like these, for my team-mates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be.
"The overwhelming messages of support from across the football world remind me why I love this sport. We keep moving forward, together."
Both clubs and the Premier League strongly condemned the incident, with the league confirming that a full investigation is underway.
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