Merseyside Police have arrested and bailed a 47-year-old Liverpool supporter after allegations of racist abuse directed at Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during Friday’s Premier League match at Anfield.
The fan, identified as wheelchair user Mark Mogan, was escorted out of the stadium at half-time after stewards and eyewitnesses reported the incident to police. TV footage had earlier appeared to show an exchange between Semenyo and a supporter in the disabled section as the striker prepared to take a throw-in.
Mogan, a long-standing Liverpool season ticket holder, has been banned from attending matches while investigations continue. As part of his bail conditions, he must also stay at least one mile away from any football stadium until November.
Liverpool have said the fan faces a lifetime ban if found guilty, stressing in a statement: “We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society or football.”
The incident, which briefly halted the match, overshadowed an emotional night at Anfield, the club’s first competitive fixture since the death of forward Diogo Jota. Semenyo, who went on to score twice in Bournemouth’s 4-2 defeat, drew attention to the abuse and alerted referee Anthony Taylor.
Fellow supporters have since shared accounts of the episode online, with many urging swift and firm action. Police confirmed they are working closely with Liverpool as part of an ongoing investigation.
“Discrimination is discrimination,” one nearby fan wrote on social media, “and if proven, this fan must never be allowed back.”
The case highlights football’s continuing battle against racism in the stands, despite widespread anti-discrimination campaigns and the Premier League’s high-profile “No Room for Racism” initiative.
