Bournemouth’s fuming captain Adam Smith revealed how Antoine Semenyo was hurt by the alleged racist abuse directed at him by a Liverpool fan on Friday night.
The football world has come out to condemn the incident, which saw a fan in a wheelchair thrown out of Anfield by police after appearing to hurl abuse towards him while he prepared to take a throw.
Despite the first-half incident, Semenyo scored twice in a breathtaking encounter as Liverpool won 4-2 and paid tribute to their late forward Diogo Jota.
Semenyo has since broken his silence on Instagram, asking ‘when will it stop’ after a fan posted monkey emojis under one of his photographs, and his captain Adam Smith was livid after the game.
Smith told Sky Sports: ‘Totally unacceptable, shocked that it happened in this day and age.
‘It shouldn’t be happening. I don’t know how Ant has played on and come up with those goals. It’s totally unacceptable. I just feel sorry for Ant. He’s a little bit down and to carry on playing, something needs to be done. Taking a knee is having no effect. We’ll support him and hopefully he’ll be okay.
Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo was reportedly the subject of racist abuse vs Liverpool
The incident occurred around the 30th minute while the forward prepared to take a throw-in
‘I wanted him to react, because that’s what I would have done. I would have gone straight over there, but it shows what type of man he is, to not react in the moment and to carry on. Coming up with those two goals shows the type of guy he is.
‘I felt angry. Shocked. I said to the referee, I wanted him removed immediately, but they had to go through a process and the police will sort it.
‘The Liverpool players were very supportive towards Antoine and the rest of the team. it was handled in the right way, but so angry.
‘We’ve had discussions with the Premier League about it, so they are taking it seriously. I don’t know what else we can do! We’ve been doing it for a long time now and no one is getting it. I don’t know what to say anymore.
‘I just feel sorry for Ant, that he’s had to take that tonight. The whole country is watching and for that to happen is shocking.’
The incident occurred just 28 minutes into the new season, when Semenyo was preparing to take a throw-in before he appeared to be heckled by a Liverpool fan.
The 25-year-old forward brought the incident to the attention of referee Anthony Taylor, and the match was promptly paused temporarily.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was seen in discussion with officials and Liverpool manager Arne Slot, before play resumed in the 31st minute.
Play was temporarily paused while both teams’ managers consulted referee Anthony Taylor
Semenyo scored a second-half brace to make it 2-2, but Liverpool fought back to restore their two-goal lead and win 4-2
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both condemned the incident on Sky Sports commentary
It has been alleged that the person who directed the abuse at Semenyo was a Liverpool fan sitting in a wheelchair in the bottom row of Anfield’s Main Stand.
At half-time, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher also expressed disdain towards the incident.
Neville said: ‘It overshadows what should be an amazing night, first game of the Premier League season.
‘That boy [Semenyo] has basically been racially abused and had to complain about it. It’s despicable. I can’t even think what would be going through someone’s mind [to say that].
Carragher added: ‘The amount of campaign we have, kick racism out, all over the world, it’s shocking to see an incident like that.
‘A shocking incident and rightly reported to the referee.’
After the final whistle, Neville said: ‘There need to be strong consequences. It’s what the game does. We see lots of statements, but there key thing is, what’s changing?’
Slot commended the attending fans for paying respects to the late Diogo Jota, and admitted that it was disappointing such an incident takes the shine off a memorable night.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola also spoke out at full-time
Semenyo received support from Bournemouth skipper Adam Smith in his post-match interview
The Dutchman said: ‘We don’t want this in football, we don’t want this in a stadium, but especially not in Anfield.
‘It’s unacceptable that something like this happens in a stadium, especially at Anfield. It takes the shine off – our fans were unbelievable with their tributes for Diogo.
‘I didn’t hear it but it should definitely not happen in a stadium.’
In the other dugout, Iraola said: ‘Antoine, the referee, everyone explained the situation. The person has been identified.
‘It was a great game of football, everyone watching, and now we have to be talking about these things. We should have been past this stage but people don’t behave correctly. Every step that you collectively do forward, with this it loses a lot of power.
‘He did what he had to do. He said straight away, the referee explained the situation, I don’t think he lost his mind, but in the next minutes he was probably thinking. It was a big shame we have to be talking about these things.
‘The Liverpool managers, the players, they feel it. Even if it’s a Liverpool supporter, they don’t want them with them. Everyone understands these things have to be out from everywhere, especially from football.’
During the game, Daily Mail Sport’s Football Editor, Ian Ladyman, reported from the crowd: ‘Two or three minutes before the stoppage I did see Semenyo turn to look at a guy seated in a wheelchair at the front of the Main Stand who was saying something to him quite forcibly.
Football fans quickly took to social media to share their contempt towards the incident
‘The look on the Bournemouth player’s face said all you needed to know.’
The Premier League released on official statement during the game, taking to their Match Centre account on X.
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It read: ‘Tonight’s match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo. This is in line with the Premier League’s on-field anti-discrimination protocol.
‘The incident at Anfield will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs. Racism has no place in our game, or anywhere in society.
‘We will continue to work with stakeholders and authorities to ensure our stadiums are an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.’
Liverpool also released a club statement during the game to condemn the moment, and revealed a police investigation is ongoing.
It read: ‘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.’