Antoine Semenyo grateful for football community's support after reporting alleged racist abuse | OneFootball

Countless players, fans, and pundits have issued messages of support to the Ghanaian

Antoine Semenyo said ‘football showed its best side’ as he received widespread messages of support after being subject to racist abuse during Bournemouth’s season opener.

The Cherries visited Liverpool to open their Premier League campaign, but the match was paused in the first half after Semenyo self-reported racist abuse from a member of the crowd.

Referee Anthony Taylor halted play in the 29th minute to speak with both managers and team captains Virgil van Dijk and Adam Smith. Police then visited the referee’s room at half-time, while anti-discrimination messaging was played over the stadium tannoy.

A widespread outpouring of support followed the incident, and in a new statement, Semenyo has thanked the football community for their messages.

He wrote: “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 teammates 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.”

He continued, saying he was pleased to have hit a second-half brace after the incident: “Scoring those two goals felt like speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch.

“This is why I play - for moments like these, for my teammates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be.

“The overwhelming messages of support from across the football world remind me why I love this sport. We keep moving forward, together.”

Gary Neville was among those to speak on the issue, saying: "It overshadows what should be an amazing night. First game of the Premier League season, a beautiful day, 62,000 fans in the stadium and that boy (Semenyo) basically has been racially abused and has had to go over to a referee to complain about it.

"I can't even begin to think what would be going through someone's mind, however it's happened and it'll keep on happening and it's a sorry state."

A statement from the FA read: "We are very concerned about the allegation of discrimination from an area of the crowd, which was reported to the match officials during the Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Bournemouth.

"Incidents of this nature have no place in our game and we will work closely with the match officials, the clubs and the relevant authorities to establish the facts and ensure the appropriate action is taken."