'Totally unacceptable' - Semenyo reports racist abuse

The Premier League opener between Liverpool and Bournemouth was stopped in the first half after Cherries forward Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by someone in the crowd.

Referee Anthony Taylor stopped play before a Liverpool corner in the 29th minute before talking to both managers on the touchline.

Liverpool and Bournemouth captains Virgil van Dijk and Adam Smith were then called over to the benches to be briefed before the match resumed four minutes later, while the score was 0-0.

An anti-discrimination message was read out to the crowd inside Anfield once the half-time whistle had blown.

It comes after Tottenham forward Mathys Tel was the subject of racist abuse on social media after being one of two Spurs players to miss in their Super Cup penalty shootout defeat by Paris St-Germain on Wednesday.

England defender Jess Carter was also the target of racist abuse during Euro 2025 last month.

While Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were subjected to racism in July 2021 in the aftermath of the Euro 2020 final, after all three missed penalties as England lost to Italy.