Semenyo shocked by alleged racist abuse at Anfield, court hears

Antoine Semenyo was left shocked by alleged racist abuse from a Liverpool supporter during a Premier League match at Anfield, prosecutors have told Liverpool Magistrates' Court. According to BBC News, Mark Mogan, 47, denies racially aggravated behaviour in connection with the incident on 15 August 2025. The trial remains ongoing.

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Semenyo, now a Manchester City winger, was playing for Bournemouth when the alleged incident occurred during the opening match of the league season. The court heard that he was preparing to take a throw-in about 30 minutes into the game when Mogan allegedly directed a racist insult at him. Prosecutor Simon Jones said the player briefly froze in disbelief.

The prosecution said further abuse followed, but Semenyo did not respond and took the throw-in. Jones described him as visibly distressed and said he reported what had happened to referee Anthony Taylor when play next stopped. The court was told that Mogan was removed from Anfield at half-time.

Two short video recordings were played in court. Jones described Mogan's demeanour in the footage as angry and agitated, and said witnesses had seen him throw chewing gum towards Semenyo, striking the right side of the player's shorts. Those claims formed part of the prosecution's account of the encounter, as reported by the BBC.

In a statement read to the court, Liverpool supporter Neil Sherratt said he saw Mogan move towards the pitch from the Main Stand's disabled section. Sherratt, who sits beside Mogan at matches, recalled hearing a demand for Semenyo to hurry up and seeing the player turn with a shocked expression. Another supporter, Nicholas Collins, alleged that Mogan subsequently threatened to assault police if they approached.

Mogan gave police a different account in an interview the next day. He said he had urged Semenyo to hurry up, claimed the footballer then used a derogatory term about his disability, and said he threw chewing gum onto the floor, not at the player. Jones told the court that prosecutors considered Mogan's police account untruthful. Semenyo is expected to give evidence by video link.