Manchester City is providing support to forward Antoine Semenyo after he recently revealed being a victim of further racial abuse this season. Semenyo, 26, shared his experience on Instagram, posting 'It's started again' along with a screenshot of the abusive comment. This incident follows an earlier occurrence at the start of the season during a match against Liverpool, where Semenyo, then playing for Bournemouth, reported being racially abused by a supporter.
The referee, Anthony Taylor, halted the game in response. The Ghanaian international scored two goals in the 4-2 loss. A 47-year-old man, Mark Mogan, was arrested and charged with a racially aggravated offense but denied the allegations in court.
His trial is set for April 22. The Premier League has condemned the latest incident, stating, 'We are appalled by the unacceptable online racist abuse directed at Antoine Semenyo and have offered our support to the player and the club.' The Premier League emphasized that racism has no place in football or society and will work with clubs, law enforcement, and social media platforms to address the issue. The FA also expressed its support for Semenyo and reiterated its commitment to combating racism.
Both organizations have pledged to impose severe consequences on individuals found guilty of discrimination, including potential prison sentences and football bans. Sky Sports has also reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining a respectful and abuse-free environment on its platforms, encouraging users to report any instances of hate speech or discriminatory content.