A man arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League opener at Anfield has been banned from attending football matches across the UK.
The incident occurred in the 29th minute of Friday’s match against Liverpool, when Semenyo reported the abuse directly to the referee, leading to a brief stoppage in play.
Merseyside Police confirmed that a 47-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
He has been conditionally bailed with restrictions that include a ban on attending any regulated football match in the UK and a prohibition on going within one mile of a designated stadium.
Police added that the investigation remains ongoing and that they are working closely with Liverpool Football Club.
Semenyo, 25, later addressed the incident on social media, calling the night one he would never forget “because of how the entire football family stood together.”
He thanked his Bournemouth teammates, Liverpool players and supporters, as well as Premier League officials, “who handled it professionally.”
