Man arrested for allegedly racially abusing Semenyo has been given conditional bail

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — A man arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during a Premier League game has been released on conditional bail, police said Monday.

Merseyside Police said the 47-year-man from Liverpool cannot attend a soccer match in Britain or go within one mile (1.6 kilometers) of a soccer stadium in Britain while on bail.

The man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offense after Semenyo, who is Black, reported to the referee that he was racially abused by a spectator in the first half of Bournemouth’s match against Liverpool at Anfield on Friday. The man was removed from the stadium soon after the alleged incident, which led to a brief stoppage in play.

An investigation “remains ongoing and we continue to work closely with the club,” Merseyside Police said.

On Saturday, Semenyo, a 25-year-old Ghana international, thanked his Bournemouth teammates, Liverpool’s players and the soccer community as a whole for the “overwhelming messages of support” he received after reporting that he was racially abused.

Semenyo played the whole game and scored twice after the alleged incident in Bournemouth’s 4-2 loss to Liverpool.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, centre left, celebrates with Bournemouth’s Adam Smith after scoring his side’s opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, left, and Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Friday Aug. 15, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

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