Bournemouth captain Adam Smith speaks out after Antoine Semenyo suffers racist abuse

Bournemouth skipper Adam Smith has voiced his frustration after teammate Antoine Semenyo was targeted with racist abuse during Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.

The incident, which forced a brief stoppage in the first half, cast a shadow over what was otherwise a lively contest.

Smith said the episode left the entire squad shaken, stressing that football should never be a stage for such behavior. He admitted he found it hard to understand how Semenyo kept his focus and continued to perform.

“This is completely unacceptable. I’m shocked it still happens today. I don’t know how Antoine keeps playing and even scoring goals. He’s a bit down, but we all supported him. Taking the knee has had no effect — something more must be done,” Smith told Sky Sports.

The captain also revealed that Liverpool’s players offered immediate backing to Semenyo, standing alongside Bournemouth’s squad in condemning the abuse. For Smith, the display of unity was important, but he insisted that stronger action must replace empty gestures.