‘Totally Unacceptable’ – Adam Smith Defends Antoine Semenyo After Racist Abuse in Liverpool Defeat

The Premier League was left reeling on Saturday night after yet another ugly incident of racism tainted what should have been a thrilling season opener. AFC Bournemouth captain Adam Smith labelled the abuse aimed at his team-mate Antoine Semenyo during the 4-2 defeat to Liverpool as “totally unacceptable,” and his words captured the anger and frustration of a football community that is tired of seeing the same headlines repeat themselves.

Adam Smith: ‘Totally Unacceptable’ and a Disgrace to the Sport

The flashpoint came midway through the first half at Anfield. Semenyo, who had been lively from the opening whistle, reported the abuse directly to referee Anthony Taylor, who then stopped the match to consult both benches and the captains — Smith for Bournemouth, and Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool. Within minutes, a 47-year-old man was ejected from the stadium, with Merseyside Police confirming that a full investigation was underway.

For Smith, though, that was not nearly enough to wash away the stain of the moment. Speaking with raw emotion after the final whistle, the Bournemouth skipper described the incident as “shocking” and a disgrace to the game.

“Totally unacceptable,” Smith said, visibly furious. “I’m in shock that it happened. In this day and age, it shouldn’t be happening. I don’t know how Ant has played on and come up with those goals. I feel sorry for him. He’s a little bit down. Something needs to be done. Taking a knee is not having an effect. We’ll support him in there and hopefully he’ll be okay.”

Smith went further, admitting he was stunned by his teammate’s composure. “I wanted him to react because that’s what I would have done. I would have gone straight over there. It shows what type of man he is to not react, to carry on, and then to report it to the ref. To come up with those goals shows what type of guy he is and what character he has. Fair play to Ant.”

Liverpool and Bournemouth United in Support

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Both teams immediately rallied around Semenyo. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s captain, revealed that he spoke to the Ghanaian forward both during and after the match. “I told him anything he needs from us, we are here for him. I stand by him. These things can’t happen, and I know all Liverpool fans will agree.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot echoed those words, insisting that the club would do everything possible to co-operate with the investigation. “It’s unacceptable in football in general, let alone at Anfield,” Slot said. “This day should have been about Diogo Jota and the tribute, but we have to address this. I spoke to him after the game and told him we will do everything to find this person. Credit to him, he’s very strong mentally — to respond in the second half with that level of performance shows the kind of player he is.”

Semenyo Responds With Goals and Courage

Remarkably, despite the sickening nature of the abuse, Semenyo didn’t just continue — he excelled. The Ghanaian forward struck twice, almost single-handedly keeping Bournemouth alive in the contest before late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah sealed a 4-2 Liverpool victory.

After the game, Semenyo took to Instagram to share his own frustrations, posting a screenshot of online racist abuse he had also received in the form of monkey emojis under one of his photos. “When will it stop?” he wrote, capturing the question that so many players and fans are asking.

It was a post that drew widespread support from across the football community. For all the strength he showed on the pitch, the reality is that no player should have to carry that weight.

Premier League and FA Condemn Racist Abuse

The Premier League acted swiftly, issuing a statement that confirmed the incident had been treated under its official anti-discrimination protocol. “Tonight’s match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse directed at Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo,” the statement read.

“The incident at Anfield will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs. Racism has no place in our game, or anywhere in society.”

The Football Association also weighed in, stressing that it was “very concerned” by the events at Anfield. “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.”

Football’s Ongoing Problem

For all the slogans, social media campaigns, and gestures before kick-off, nights like these show how deep-rooted football’s racism problem remains. Smith himself acknowledged the sense of helplessness that many players feel. “We’ve been doing it for a long time now and no one is getting it. I just feel sorry for Ant, who has had to take that tonight. The whole country is watching, and for that to happen is shocking.”

He’s right. The abuse wasn’t just an attack on one player — it was a moment that stained the spectacle of the Premier League, the self-proclaimed “best league in the world.” Until there are harsher punishments, quicker lifetime bans, and stronger measures against online abuse, players will continue to be let down.

A Dark Night Overshadowed by Semenyo’s Strength

Ultimately, Bournemouth’s defeat will fade into the background. What won’t be forgotten is the way Semenyo handled himself. On a night when he should have been celebrated purely for his football — his movement, his goals, his fight against one of the league’s giants — he instead had to navigate the ugliness of racist abuse.

And yet, he rose above it. He showed resilience, professionalism, and strength of character that deserves far more attention than the disgraceful actions of one individual.

For Smith, for Semenyo, and for the entire Bournemouth squad, this was more than just a football match. It was another reminder of the work still to be done to make stadiums genuinely safe and inclusive. Football owes it to players like Antoine Semenyo to ensure that one day, nights like this no longer make the headlines.