FIFA president Gianni Infantino convicted racist abuse aimed at Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo during a Premier League 2025-26 match against Liverpool, and said that the World Football Board Body was reaching the Ghana International to offer its support.
Semenyo became the target of a man in the crowd at the Anfield Stadium of Liverpool during the first half on Friday, where referee Anthony Taylor stopped the game to tackle the incident. Taylor spoke with both managers and captains before the game resumed.
The Merseyside police said that a 47-year-old man from Anfield was ejected. On Saturday they confirmed that the man from Liverpool had been arrested on suspicion of a racially exacerbated public order infringement and in custody to be interviewed.
On Saturday, Semenyo thanked his teammates, Liverpool, match officers and the «entire football family» for their support.
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«Football has no room for racism or any form of discrimination – Antoine’s courage and performance on the field, despite such an adversity, a powerful example of strength and dignity for players worldwide,» Infantino said in a statement.
“The voting panel of the players, founded as part of the five pillars against racism that was adopted by the FIFA congress in 2024, will contact Antoine and keep a close eye on these situations.
«We are committed to ensure that players are respected and protected, and that competition organizers and law enforcement agencies take appropriate measures.»
Semenyo revealed that he had been racially abused online after the game.
Premier League director Richard Masters also gave a warning on Saturday that everyone is guilty of racist abuse from stadiums and could be confronted.
