Racist abuse at Anfield Road, match interrupted
Referee Anthony Taylor (right) in discussion with the managers of both teams and the steward after the incident.
The opening match of the 2025-2026 English Premier League season between Liverpool and Bournemouth (4-2) was interrupted a few minutes after Bournemouth's Ghanaian international, Antoine Semenyo, was racially abused by a Liverpool supporter.
"This (Friday) evening's match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily suspended during the first half following a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd directed at Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo," the Premier League said in a statement. "The incident at Anfield will be fully investigated. We offer our support to the player and the clubs."
Match referee Anthony Taylor stopped the game – as required by Premier League protocol – in the 29th minute after the Ghanaian striker reported the abuse, before calling out the two coaches, Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola.
The match then resumed in the 31st minute after the match referee recorded the incident.
Semenyo then stood out in the second half, scoring twice in the 64th and 77th minutes. But the Reds ultimately won at the very end of the match thanks to goals from Italy's Federico Chiesa (88th minute) and Egypt's Mohamed Salah (94th minute).
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