A 71-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo during the team's 3-3 draw with Everton on Monday. The incident occurred at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and the arrest was made after fans and stewards reported the abuse to Merseyside police. The suspect has been released on bail with conditions, including a ban from entering within one mile of any designated sports stadium for four hours before kick-off, during matches, and four hours after the final whistle.
Club Responses
Everton released a statement acknowledging the swift response from supporters, stewards, and police, which led to the identification and action against the individual. The club reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination and pledged to assist authorities in their investigation. Manchester City also condemned the racist abuse directed at Semenyo and revealed that teammate Marc Guéhi was subjected to racist abuse on social media after the match. The club expressed disappointment and vowed to support both players, emphasizing that discrimination has no place in football.
Previous Incident
This is not the first time Semenyo has been targeted. While playing for Bournemouth against Liverpool at Anfield last August, he faced similar abuse. Mark Mogan of Dovecot, Liverpool, pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated disorderly behavior in that case, and his trial was adjourned for a psychiatric assessment to determine his fitness to stand trial.
