Football can be a game of joy, passion, and unity—but for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, the opening weekend of the Premier League was overshadowed by an ugly incident that highlighted a problem the sport has yet to shake off.
The 25-year-old striker has broken his silence for the first time since being racially abused at Anfield, calling for far tougher punishments for perpetrators.
The Incident at Anfield
During Bournemouth’s clash with Liverpool on August 15, Semenyo was preparing to take a throw-in when a fan in a wheelchair unleashed a torrent of racist abuse at him.
Shocked, the Ghanaian international immediately reported the incident to referee Anthony Taylor.
Merseyside Police acted swiftly, escorting the fan out of the stadium before making an arrest.
The suspect, later identified as 47-year-old Mark Mogan, has since been released on bail for three months while investigations continue.
“It Just Doesn’t Make Sense”
Reflecting on the abuse in an interview with ITV News, Semenyo admitted the words cut deep:
“It was pretty sad to hear, to be honest. In this day and age, players are still getting racially abused and it just doesn’t make sense.
We just want to know why it keeps happening.”
At half-time, the reality of what happened hit him hard. Anger boiled inside him—but he turned that emotion into fuel, scoring twice that night.
“You could say those two goals came from the motivation I had after what happened,” he added.
A Call for Tougher Punishments
Semenyo believes the current sanctions against racist abusers are nowhere near enough.
He wants authorities to take stronger action to send a clear message.
“There has to be greater punishment. It could be jail time, it could be a lifetime ban from stadiums—anything along those lines.
But something more needs to be done. It shouldn’t be happening in this day and age.”
He also urged other players not to stay silent:
“Any players who experience it—don’t shy away from reporting. Make sure the punishment is maximum.”
Racism Spreads Beyond the Pitch
The abuse didn’t stop when the match ended. On the team bus after the game, Semenyo checked his phone and found a flood of racist comments and direct messages online.
Responding in frustration, he posted on Instagram: “When will it stop…”
Liverpool and Police Respond
Liverpool FC have made their stance clear, promising that if Mogan is found guilty, he will be banned from Anfield for life. The club said:
“We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms—it has no place in society or football.”
Meanwhile, Merseyside Police confirmed the suspect’s arrest and strict bail conditions, which prevent him from attending any football matches or going within a mile of a stadium in the UK. The investigation remains ongoing.
A Wider Issue in Football
Semenyo’s experience is sadly not an isolated one.
While he has received overwhelming support from fans, teammates, and fellow professionals, the incident serves as another reminder of how much work still needs to be done to eliminate racism from football.
For Semenyo, his message is clear: the game must take a tougher stand to protect players and finally put an end to racist abuse.
