Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, has reiterated the league’s stand against racism, saying anyone guilty of racist abuse will be banned from stadiums and could face prosecution.
This follows the alleged racist abuse suffered by Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo in the Premier League opener against Liverpool on Friday.
However, Merseyside Police said a 47-year-old man from Liverpool was identified and removed from Anfield before being arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and taken into custody for questioning.
Read also: Premier League opener marred by racist abuse on Antoine Semenyo
“No Premier League footballer should ever have to, in their workplace or online, suffer that sort of abuse. It is important that we keep saying that,” Masters told BBC Sport.
The Premier League says it is investigating the incident and has offered its support to Semenyo and both clubs.
Similarly, Meta is also investigating and will take action against any offending comments and accounts.
“It is a problem for society. It leaks into football, and it shouldn’t happen in a football stadium. It shouldn’t happen online.
“It makes people like me and other football people in charge of the game think twice about what else we can do to ensure that these things don’t happen in the future.
“If you are found to be using discriminatory language inside a football ground, you will be ejected, second, you will be banned, and third, you may face criminal charges,” Masters said.
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Ghana international Semenyo took to his Instagram page after the game to show more racist abuse he had received, with the caption: “When will it stop?”
In a further post on Instagram on Saturday, the 25-year-old, who scored twice in Bournemouth’s 4-2 defeat, said: “Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever – not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together.
“To my Bournemouth team-mates who supported me in that moment, to the Liverpool players and fans who showed their true character, to the Premier League officials who handled it professionally – thank you. Football showed its best side when it mattered most.
According to him, scoring Bournemouth’s first two goals in the 2025/26 season felt like speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch.
“This is why I play – for moments like these, for my team-mates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be.
Read also: Fulham condemn racist and homophobic abuse directed at Calvin Bassey
“The overwhelming messages of support from across the football world remind me why I love this sport. We keep moving forward, together,” Semenyo said.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk called the incident “a disgrace” and said anti-racism campaigns need to do more to eradicate it from the game.
“The only thing we can do is deal with it by dealing with him personally and trying to educate the next generation. That is the only way to try and kick it out, in my opinion.”
“I can’t believe it. These things shouldn’t happen, but unfortunately, it does, and it is an absolute disgrace in my eyes,” Van Dijk said.
