Liverpool boss Arne Slot has strongly condemned the racial abuse suffered by Ghanaian international and striker Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League opener at Anfield on Friday night.
The incident occurred in the first half when Semenyo alerted the referee to the abuse from sections of the crowd. Match officials temporarily halted play to allow discussions with the technical benches of both teams before the game resumed.
Police ID and remove the Liverpool supporter suspected of racially abusing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo at Anfield pic.twitter.com/MWKgMYMXUV
— Daily Mail Sport (@MailSport) August 15, 2025
Despite the unpleasant episode, Liverpool went on to seal a 4-2 victory, while Semenyo responded in the best possible way, scoring twice in the second half, as The Cherries attempted a comeback.
“It’s unacceptable in every football stadium, but especially here at Anfield, a place that should represent unity and respect,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports. “Big credit to Semenyo. If something like this happens and you still manage to perform at such a high level, it speaks volumes about your strength of character.”
The Dutch manager also called on football authorities to do more to eradicate racism from the game. “We can’t keep saying ‘never again’ without action. Players deserve protection, and fans who cross the line must face consequences.”
Arne Slot addresses the abuse Antoine Semenyo faced:
🗣️”It’s unacceptable in every football stadium, let alone at Anfield…big credits to him if something happens like this and you can perform so well in the second half.” pic.twitter.com/L7t5z2SHqR
— AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) August 15, 2025
With Ghana’s Black Stars preparing for the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September, Semenyo’s form will be vital. His performance at Anfield proved once again why he is expected to be one of the team’s key attacking weapons.
