Semenyo 'froze' after alleged racist abuse, court told

What the report says

A Liverpool Magistrates’ Court has heard evidence in the trial of Mark Mogan, 47, who denies racially aggravated behaviour after an alleged incident involving Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth at Anfield on 15 August 2025. Semenyo, who has since joined Manchester City, was preparing to take a throw-in when, prosecutors say, he was targeted with a racist insult from the stands.

According to the BBC Sport report, prosecutors told the court that Semenyo “froze” briefly, appeared distressed, and then reported the incident to referee Anthony Taylor the next time play stopped. The court also heard that Mogan was removed from the stadium at half-time. Video clips shown in court were described by the prosecution as capturing Mogan in an agitated mood, and witnesses said he later threw chewing gum in Semenyo’s direction.

The defence position, as reported, is that Mogan told police he had only shouted at Semenyo to hurry up and denied aiming abuse at the player. He also claimed Semenyo had called him “a cripple,” which had upset him. Other witness statements read to the court differed on what was said and how Semenyo reacted. Semenyo is expected to give evidence by videolink. The case matters because it adds to ongoing scrutiny of racist abuse in football and how matchday incidents are investigated and prosecuted.