Merseyside Police have confirmed the arrest of a 47-year-old man after Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused from the stands during Friday night’s Premier League opener against Liverpool at Anfield.
Semenyo, who scored twice in the match, informed officials of the abuse shortly after the incident, prompting a swift police response. The suspect was identified and taken into custody, where he is being questioned on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
Both Liverpool and Bournemouth have strongly condemned the abuse, reaffirming their zero-tolerance approach towards racism. The Premier League has also been notified and is expected to lend its support to the ongoing investigation.
Anti-racism campaigners have renewed calls for stricter punishments and preventative measures to eliminate discriminatory behaviour from football grounds.
