A 47-year-old man has been banned from every football stadium in the United Kingdom after being arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the opening Premier League match of the season at Anfield.
The incident occurred in the 29th minute of Bournemouth’s game against Liverpool on Friday, August 15, 2025, when Semenyo drew the referee’s attention to the abuse. The match was briefly halted before play resumed.
Merseyside Police confirmed on Saturday that the man, who is from Liverpool but has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
He has been conditionally bailed with restrictions, including a ban on attending any regulated football match in the UK and a prohibition on going within one mile of a designated stadium.
The force said investigations were ongoing and that it was working closely with Liverpool Football Club.
Semenyo, a 25-year-old Ghana international, later addressed the matter on social media, writing that the night at Anfield would “stay with me forever, not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together”. He thanked his teammates, Liverpool players, fans, and Premier League officials, adding that the support was a reminder of why he loves the sport.
Despite the incident, Semenyo went on to score twice in the second half as Bournemouth fought back from two goals down before eventually losing 4-2 to Liverpool.
The Premier League said its “on-field anti-discrimination protocol” was applied and that the matter “will now be fully investigated”.
The case comes days after Tottenham Hotspur’s Mathys Tel was subjected to racist abuse online following his missed penalty in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain.
Merseyside Police said on Monday, August 18, 2025, that its investigation into the Semenyo incident was still ongoing.
