A Liverpool supporter has been banned from attending football matches across the United Kingdom after racially abusing AFC Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League opener at Anfield.

The incident occurred in the 29th minute of Friday’s match, prompting Semenyo to report the abuse to referee Anthony Taylor under the league’s anti-discrimination protocol. The game was briefly halted before resuming, with the 24-year-old going on to score twice in Bournemouth’s 4-2 defeat.

Merseyside Police confirmed that a 47-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. He has since been released on conditional bail, which includes a ban from attending all regulated football matches in the UK and a restriction preventing him from going within one mile of any designated stadium.

A police spokesperson added that investigations remain ongoing and that they are working closely with Liverpool Football Club to establish the full facts.

Semenyo later addressed the incident on social media, saying the night would “stay with [him] forever,” not because of one person’s words, but because of the solidarity shown by the wider football community. He thanked his Bournemouth teammates, Liverpool players and fans, and Premier League officials for their support and professionalism.

The Ghana international has since received overwhelming backing from across the football world, with the Ghana Football Association, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and anti-discrimination bodies such as Kick It Out all condemning the abuse and praising Semenyo’s courage in speaking out.