Liverpool have confirmed that police are investigating a report of racial abuse towards Antoine Semenyo.
Play during the Reds’ entertaining 4-2 win over Bournemouth was paused by referee Anthony Taylor shortly before the half-hour mark.
Taylor spoke to both Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola on the touchline, with captains Virgil van Dijk and Adam Smith being called upon.
The match resumed after a short break, and the Premier League confirmed the reported abuse in a strong mid-match statement.
“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 released a statement after full-time, saying: “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.”
Semenyo scored two goals in the second half in an inspiring response to the sickening abuse, and Smith lauded his resilience on the pitch.
“Just totally unacceptable,” he told Sky Sports. “Kind of in shock to be honest that his happened, in this day and age, it shouldn’t be happening.
“I mean, I don’t know how Ant’s played on to be honest and come up with those goals. It’s totally unacceptable and if anything, I just feel sorry for Antoine.
“He’s a little bit down obviously and to carry on playing… Something needs to be done. Taking the knee and doing this, it’s having no effect so we’ll support him in there and hopefully he’ll be OK.”
The Football Association also said: “We are very concerned about the allegation of discrimination from an area of the crowd, which was reported to the match officials during the Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Bournemouth.
“Incidents of this nature have no place in our game, and we will work closely with the match officials, the clubs and the relevant authorities to establish the facts and ensure the appropriate action is taken.”
talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham said on commentary: “Antoine Semenyo, racially abused by a member of the crowd at Anfield here tonight.
“It’s 2025, day one of the Premier League season. It’s unacceptable, that’s an obvious thing to say.
“But let’s make it clear, it is totally unacceptable. If that racist can be identified and found, and it shouldn’t be hard, they have to be banned from Anfield, banned from all grounds and there have to be criminal proceedings.
“It has to be taken seriously because I’ll say it again, it’s 2025 and it’s the Premier League. You just can’t have this kind of thing going on. It’s simply, totally and utterly unacceptable.
“And actually for me, it’s spoiled what’s been an emotional evening and but what has been a brilliant first half.”
Liverpool felt aggrieved early on in the thrilling Premier League opener when Marcos Senesi escaped a red card for a handball.
But Hugo Ekitike scored a debut goal to put the hosts ahead with eight minutes left in the first half.
He then assisted Cody Gakpo for the second as visitors Bournemouth struggled to find a response to the opener.
However, the deficit was halved when Semenyo pulled a goal back for the Cherries with his finish from a quick counter-attack.
Semenyo then scored an excellent second with a low finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
But with two minutes on the clock, Federico Chiesa produced a fine strike on the volley to score his first Premier League goal.
And then Mohamed Salah made it 4-2 in stoppage-time as defending Premier League champions Liverpool avoided a shock result on the opening weekend.