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Antoine Semenyo 'froze' after alleged racist abuse at Anfield, court told
Overview
A court has heard that footballer Antoine Semenyo 'froze' and was left hurt and upset after being allegedly racially abused by a Liverpool fan during a Premier League match at Anfield in August 2025. The defendant, Mark Mogan, denies charges of racially aggravated behaviour.
Key points
- Antoine Semenyo was allegedly racially abused by a Liverpool fan while playing for Bournemouth against Liverpool on 15 August 2025.
- Prosecutor Simon Jones told Liverpool Magistrates' Court that Semenyo briefly 'froze' and reported the incident to the referee.
- The defendant, 47-year-old Mark Mogan, denies a charge of racially aggravated behaviour.
- Witnesses alleged that Mogan also threw chewing gum that hit Semenyo's shorts and shouted further abuse.
- Mogan claimed in a police interview that he only told Semenyo to hurry up and alleged the footballer had called him 'a cripple'.