Fan reveals vile details of Semenyo racist incident during Liverpool's win over Bournemouth
Both Chiesa's and Salah's goals came in the closing stages after Liverpool let a 2-0 lead slip to the visitors after Antoine Semenyo's brace cancelled out goals for Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike who got the very first goal of the Premier League season in his first game in the English top flight.
However the game has been somewhat overshadowed by an incident that took place moments before Ekitike's goals where the match was stopped for a number of minutes after an incident between a fan and Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. Federico Chiesa. Pic: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Just before the half hour mark referee Anthony Taylor stopped the play as Liverpool were preparing to take a corner. Then he went over to the two managers Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola as well as the fourth official and the police. It was unclear at the time but it came out soon after play resumed that a racist incident had taken place between a fan and Semenyo.
Details of the incident were sparse to begin with but now a fan that was nearby has given an eye witness account. The fan explained that the preparator is a regular season ticket holder and often lets his temper boil over into abuse of referees and players. The eyewitness fan then explained how this time it was all a little bit different. Referee Anthony Taylor speaks with both Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola as Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth reports racist abuse from a fan. Pic: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
'About 28 minutes into the game, Semenyo goes to take a throw in.' the fan said to This Is Anfield. 'He's not a player that goads the fans and seems like a decent lad – the sort of player that people want playing for their club.
'For reasons I'll never know, the fella near me…. shouts something at Semenyo. Semenyo then asks him to repeat it and he repeated it and threw his chewing gum at him. Then, two minutes later, the play is stopped'
The fan was eventually removed around 30 minutes later. Antoine Semenyo. Pic: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
The Ghanaian International Semenyo commented on the incident on Saturday saying in a statement on X; '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 Bournemouth teammates who supported me in that moment, to the Liverpool players and fans who showed their true character, to the Premier League officials who handled it professionally – thank you.
'Football showed its best side when it mattered most. 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 teammates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be. Antoine Semenyo. Pic: Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
'The overwhelming messages of support from across the football world remind me why I love this sport. We keep moving forward, together.'
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 @afcbournemouth teammates who supported me in that moment, to the @LiverpoolFC players and fans who showed their true… pic.twitter.com/6sNyv3vROK
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