Shocking Scenes As Man In Wheelchair Ejected For Racially Abusing Antoine Semenyo During Liverpool Vs Bournemouth
Holders Liverpool made a winning start to their Premier League campaign on Saturday, but the performance was marred by a supporter being ejected for racially abusing a player.
Allegation of racism marred the opening day clash between Premier League defending champions Liverpool and Bournemouth on Friday. Just after the half-an-hour mark, Bournemouth forward Antonie Semenyo approached the referee and claimed to have been racially abused by a fan.
Following Semenyo's complaint, the match was halted briefly as referee Anthony Taylor briefed both the managers – Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola – about the incident.
A clip of Semenyo exchanging words with a wheelchair-bound man at Anfield while preparing for a throw-in is doing the rounds on social media.
'I am told by the Match Centre, the Premier League Match Centre, that Antoine Semenyo was subject to a racist comment from the crowd," commentator Peter Drury informed viewers while on air on Sky Sports. 'Of which, of course, nobody on either side, or indeed anywhere, is approving. So, sympathy from Liverpool, beyond which, at this stage, nothing to report. What I can tell you, also, is that it was Semenyo himself who brought the referee's attention to it."
'Liverpool Football Club is aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth. We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society or football. The club is unable to comment further as tonight's alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully," read the statement.
Liverpool Manager Furious
Liverpool manager Slot was angered at the allegation and praised Antoine for maintaining his composure while scoring two goals later on to pull Bournemouth on level terms with their hosts.
'It is unacceptable in any stadium, especially Anfield. It shouldn't happen but unfortunately we definitely have to talk about it. It should be about Diogo and how the tributes were. I spoke to Antoine after the game and said the club will do everything we can to find the person responsible. Big credit to him if something happens to him and he can perform like this. He is not only a great player but very strong mentally. But it is unacceptable," Slot said.
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