A Liverpool supporter has been banned from attending football matches in the UK after racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League clash at Anfield.

The incident, which happened during the first half of Liverpool vs. Bournemouth’s Premier League 25/26 season opener, prompted the referee to briefly stop play under the league’s anti-discrimination protocol while consulting the captains and managers.

A 47-year-old man was taken out of the stadium and later released on conditional bail after Merseyside Police confirmed his arrest.

He is prohibited from going to any regulated football game in the UK as part of his bail requirements, and he must remain at least a mile away from stadiums on matchdays while the investigation is ongoing.

Liverpool quickly issued a strong statement condemning the incident, insisting that racism has no place in football or society and pledging full cooperation with authorities.

In response to the allegations, Bournemouth assured that the Professional Footballers’ Association will provide support to Semenyo throughout the process.

The attacker, Semenyo, expressed his gratitude for the solidarity shown, describing the night as one he will never forget, not because of the abuse, but for how the wider football family stood together against the abuse of such players.

However, he also revealed further racist messages he received online, sharing his frustration by asking: “When will it stop?”

The Premier League and the Football Association both described the incident as unacceptable, promising a thorough investigation and appropriate punishment.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters warned that offenders will face stadium bans and possible prosecution, reiterating the league’s zero-tolerance stance on racism.