The match was paused in the first half after Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by a Liverpool supporter in a wheelchair during a throw-in, leading referee Anthony Taylor to halt play for several minutes.
This, combined with a controversial no-penalty call that could have seen Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez sent off, has fueled heated debate and underscored the Premier League’s newly strengthened anti-racism policies.
The incident happened in the 28th minute when Semenyo, about to take a throw-in near the Main Stand, allegedly heard racist remarks from the fan. He immediately informed Taylor, who stopped the game to speak with both managers, Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola, and the team captains.
Sky Sports’ Peter Drury told viewers the delay was due to Semenyo’s complaint, with the visibly shaken player receiving support from Iraola and teammate Kerkez.
Play resumed after roughly two minutes, but the event overshadowed what was already an emotionally charged evening, marked by a tribute to the late Diogo Jota.
Liverpool later issued a statement strongly condemning the abuse and vowing to work with authorities on a full investigation.
Under the Premier League’s 2025-26 rules, introduced as part of its No Room For Racism campaign, those found guilty of racist abuse now face lifetime bans from stadiums and possible criminal charges.
The April 2025 Action Plan also enforces instant removal from grounds, mandatory education programs, and the risk of fines or points deductions for clubs with repeat offenses.
If proven guilty, the accused fan could be ejected from Anfield, barred from all Premier League matches for life, and prosecuted under UK anti-discrimination laws—part of the league’s zero-tolerance push to eliminate racism from the sport.
