A 47-year-old man has been arrested and banned from attending football matches across the UK after allegedly racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during his side’s Premier League opener against Liverpool at Anfield.
The incident, which forced a brief stoppage in the first half of Friday’s match, was reported by Semenyo to the referee.
Police confirmed on Monday that the suspect, a Liverpool resident, was arrested the following day on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
Merseyside Police said the man has since been released on bail but with strict conditions.
He is barred from entering any regulated football match in the country and is prohibited from going within a mile of any football stadium while investigations continue.
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Despite the ugly episode, Semenyo delivered a strong performance, scoring twice as Bournemouth fought back from two goals down before eventually losing 4-2 to Liverpool.
The Ghana international later took to social media to reflect on the night, praising the solidarity shown across the football community.
“It’s a night I will never forget, because of how the entire football family stood together,” Semenyo, 25, wrote. “Football showed its best side when it mattered most. I’m grateful to my team-mates, Liverpool players and fans, and the Premier League officials for handling the situation professionally.”
The police investigation into the matter remains ongoing.