Antoine Semenyo: Racist Abuse at Anfield “Will Stay With Me Forever”

Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has spoken openly about the racist abuse he says he suffered at Anfield during his side’s Premier League opener against Liverpool, describing the incident as something that “will stay with me forever.”

A Dark Moment in a Big Game

The 25-year-old Ghanaian international reported the abuse midway through the first half of Liverpool’s 4-2 win, forcing play to be briefly halted. Merseyside Police later confirmed that a 47-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.

Despite the disruption, Semenyo responded on the pitch in the most powerful way possible: scoring twice as Bournemouth clawed their way back from 2-0 down, before Liverpool’s late rally sealed the points.

Semenyo’s Powerful Statement

Speaking on social media after the match, Semenyo said the incident will remain with him, but so will the solidarity he experienced in the aftermath.

“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 wrote. He thanked his Bournemouth teammates, Liverpool players and fans, and Premier League officials for their support, adding: “Football showed its best side when it mattered most.”

The forward reflected that his brace felt like the best possible response: “Scoring those two goals felt like speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch.”

Liverpool’s Response

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk called the incident a “disgrace” and underlined how much work still needs to be done to tackle racism in the game. “These things shouldn’t happen — not just in football but anywhere in the world,” he said. “We stand with Antoine, and as a club we’ll deal with this in the best way possible.”

The Premier League also released a statement condemning the abuse, reaffirming its stance on kicking racism out of football.

Wider Context: Racism in Football

While football has made strides in recent years with campaigns such as “Kick It Out” and “No Room for Racism,” incidents like this show how far the sport — and society — still has to go. For Black players, especially those from African nations like Semenyo, the abuse is not just personal but symbolic of a wider struggle for respect and equality.

On social media, messages of solidarity flooded in, with fans across clubs praising Semenyo’s resilience and calling for harsher punishments for offenders.

A Moment That Transcends the Scoreline

For Semenyo, the night was bigger than goals and results. It was a reminder that football can still serve as a platform for unity, even in the face of hate.

“This is why I play,” he wrote. “For my team-mates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be. We keep moving forward, together.”

Source:EWN 

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