A shocking incident transpired during the Premier League 2025-26 season as the authorities ejected a 47-year-old for allegedly making a racial comment towards Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo amid the match against Liverpool at Anfield. A purported video of the same emerged on social media as the game had to be temporarily stopped due to the incident.
The match had to be stopped in the 28th minute after the alleged racist comment. Match referee Anthony Taylor had also spoken to managers Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola after the game was paused. The Premier League strongly condemned the alleged incident and vowed a deep investigation into it.
Below is the video of the man in the wheelchair hurling some words to Antoine Semenyo; however, it's unconfirmed if it was the same man who racially abused him.
The Premier League released the below statement:
"I don't know how Ant has played on and come up with those goals" - Adam Smith on Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith condemned the incident as unacceptable, claiming that it shouldn't be happening at this day and age and vowed complete support to Semenyo. Smith said, as quoted by Sky Sports:
"It's totally unacceptable. I'm in shock that it happened. In this day and age, it shouldn't be happening. I don't know how Ant has played on and come up with those goals. I feel sorry for Ant. He's a little bit down. Something needs to be done. Taking a knee is not having an effect. We'll support him in there and hopefully he'll be okay."
Although Bournemouth lost by a commanding margin of 4-2, the two goals for the visiting team came from Semenyo. For Liverpool, Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah netted goals.
