Liverpool manager Arne Slot has lauded AFC Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo for his composure and resilience after the Ghana international was subjected to racist abuse during Friday night’s Premier League season opener at Anfield.
The incident occurred midway through the first half, prompting Semenyo to report it to the referee, which led to intervention from officials of both clubs.
Play was briefly halted before resuming, and Semenyo responded emphatically by scoring twice in the second half, though Bournemouth ultimately fell 4-2 to Liverpool.
Speaking after the match, Slot condemned the abuse and praised the 24-year-old for maintaining focus under pressure.
“It’s a good thing you talk about this, and it’s a good thing that I have to answer this, but after actually this day should be about Diogo and about how the tribute was. But we definitely need to address this because it’s unacceptable in every football stadium, let alone at Anfield.
“I spoke to him [Semenyo] after the game that we will try to do everything to find that person. I am not 100 per cent sure but I think they already found him. That’s a good thing.”
The Dutch manager highlighted Semenyo’s mental strength and professionalism.
“Wherever we can help him, we will try to do so. Big credit to him, if something happens like this and you can perform so well in the second half, then he’s not only a great player, because that I can see [with] how fast he is, but he is also very strong mentally.
“If something like that happened [and] to get such a second-half performance, that sums up him as a person and him as a player. But, again, [it’s] unacceptable in football in general, let alone at Anfield,” he added.
Semenyo, Bournemouth’s standout performer, will aim to build on his impressive display when the Cherries host Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Vitality Stadium next weekend.
