Antoine Semenyo’s outstanding performance in the opening night of the Premier League season took center stage as he scored two superb goals for Bournemouth against Liverpool, but the focus quickly shifted to a disturbing incident involving alleged racial abuse.
During the first half, Semenyo was subjected to racist abuse from a member of the Liverpool support while taking a throw-in. The game was halted in the 29th minute, and despite feeling “totally unacceptable” and wanting to react, Semenyo chose not to intervene, instead reporting the incident to the referee.
“It’s totally unacceptable,” Bournemouth captain Adam Smith said. “I’m sort of in shock, to be honest. It shouldn’t be happening in this day and age.”
Semenyo showed remarkable resilience as he continued playing despite the incident, channeling his emotions into a stellar performance that saw him score both goals. His actions were praised by coaches Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot, who described him as a “character” and “someone who understands the situation.”
Despite the positive reaction to Semenyo’s display, the issue of racism in football remains a pressing concern. The incident is the latest example of how methods to combat it are not working, with recent examples including Tottenham Hotspur forward Mathys Tel being subjected to racist abuse following his penalty miss in the UEFA Super Cup.
As the Premier League continues to tackle this issue, Bournemouth’s Adam Smith expressed frustration that the anti-racism gesture, “taking a knee,” has lost its impact. The team collectively decided to stop taking the knee due to concerns it is not having the desired effect.
Semenyo’s bravery and determination in the face of adversity serve as a powerful reminder of the need for change. With something still needed to be done to combat racism in football, Semenyo’s response will undoubtedly inspire many, but also sparks questions about what that “something different” might look like.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6556774/2025/08/16/antoine-semenyo-bournemouth-liverpool-racism