With a focus on future action and zero tolerance for racism, Liverpool FC, the Premier League, and the police condemned the abuse.
The Game at the Premier League season opener at Anfield was suspended in the 29th minute when a Bournemouth player by the name Antoine Semenyo protested to the referee that he had been racially abused by a fan. The game was put on hold and the referee Anthony Taylor spoke to the two team captains and managers and the game restarted after an announcement concerning anti discrimination over the PA system.
The 47 year old Liverpool man was removed and arrested by Merseyside Police with a suspicion of a racially aggravated section 5 of the Public Order Act of 1986. He was given conditional bail since then on the basis of conditions of not attending any live football matches or entering any stadium in the UK with a radius of one mile.
Semenyo delivered an historic substitute appearance, scoring two of the three second half goals to rally Bournemouth into the contest before Liverpool very much put it beyond doubt to overturn a 4-2 deficit. He was very thankful later on about the unity portrayed by fellow teammates, opposing players and officials, supporters and the football community as a whole.
Both Liverpool FC and the Premier League have voiced absolute outrage against the incident, stressing the policy of zero tolerance on racism. The top English soccer league chief executive, Richard Masters, threatened offenders with legal action as well as a stadium ban, saying the practice was unacceptable in the sport and in society. Merseyside Police also supported this saying that they will cooperate closely with the club in the bid to acquire a football banning order against the concerned person.
The disturbing incident reminds that racism is a serious problem in football. The reaction given by Semenyo and that of the rest of the condemnation is an indication of the integrity of the values of the field and that education and harsher actions of a sport needs to be further done.
It is also a reminder to football fans, clubs to which they belong and authorities that unity and commitment to inclusiveness is essential in the battle against hate, both on and off the pitch.
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