Antoine Semenyo Calls for Two Strict Ways to Tackle Racist Abuse
- Antoine Semenyo is urging tougher penalties after experiencing racist abuse during his side’s Premier League opener
- The incident, which caused a brief stoppage at Anfield, has sparked fresh debate over how football deals with discrimination
- League officials have since promised stronger measures, but the player insists more still needs to be done
Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo has called for tougher action against racism in football, suggesting prison sentences for offenders.
The 25-year-old revealed he was racially abused by a fan during his team’s 4-2 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on the Premier League’s opening weekend.
Source: Getty Images
The game was briefly halted as referee Anthony Taylor discussed the incident with both managers and captains.
Speaking to ITV News, Semenyo stressed that “something more” must be done by authorities to tackle the issue.
Police arrest fan who abused Semenyo
Merseyside Police arrested a 47-year-old Liverpool man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
He has since appeared in court and, as part of his bail conditions, has been banned from attending any football stadium in the UK.
Semenyo wants jail & life bans as racist abuse punishments
Asked what the maximum punishment should be for those guilty of racial abuse, Semenyo said via The BBC:
"It could be jail time, it could be banned from stadiums for a lifetime, it could be anything along the lines of that, but I feel like there has to be something else."
Semenyo Calls for Stronger Action to Tackle Racism in Football
Semenyo scored twice in the second half against Liverpool after raising his concerns about racist abuse to the referee.
The Ghana international said players are frustrated by the frequency of such incidents, stressing that they “want to know why it keeps happening.” He also revealed he was racially abused online shortly after the match at Anfield.
“Someone felt the need to come online and do that, and it made me angry, to be honest. Why would you want to do that?” he said.
Source: Getty Images
When asked if he believed the publicity around the incident might discourage others from making racist remarks, Semenyo replied:
“I hope it does. But if it doesn’t, it shows the Premier League isn’t doing enough and that more action is needed. So I hope it does.”
Premier League Vows Tough Stance on Racism After Semenyo Incident
A day after Antoine Semenyo reported racist abuse at Anfield, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told BBC Sport that authorities remain committed to eradicating discrimination from the game.
Masters explained that anyone found using discriminatory language inside a stadium would face ejection, a ban, and potentially criminal charges.
He added that no Premier League player should ever be subjected to abuse, whether on the pitch or online, and stressed the importance of continuing to send that message.
Semenyo will now look to keep his sharp form alive when Bournemouth welcome Wolves on Saturday, August 23.
Rooney reveals two ways to deal with racism
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Wayne Rooney has stepped forward with strong ideas on how football can finally root out racism.
The Manchester United icon shared his thoughts in the wake of the Antoine Semenyo incident at Anfield, a moment that cast a shadow over the Premier League’s opening weekend.
Source: YEN.com.gh
