Jamie Carragher has come under fire for not explicitly condemning the alleged racist abuse directed at Antoine Semenyo, despite describing the incident as “shocking” during half-time.
The season opener between Liverpool and Bournemouth was halted in the first half after Semenyo reported being racially abused by a home supporter at Anfield.
Referee Anthony Taylor was informed, prompting a stoppage as players, staff, and officials discussed the matter on the pitch.
Source: Getty Images
Merseyside Police later confirmed that a 47-year-old man had been ejected from the stadium and arrested as part of a hate crime investigation.
An anti-discrimination message was read out to the crowd at half-time, while Semenyo’s teammates offered him support.
The Premier League has since pledged to investigate and expressed its “full support to the player and both clubs.”
Fans slam Carragher for not speaking on Semenyo abuse
Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury had confirmed the alleged incident was of a racial nature, but Carragher was criticised on social media for his initial response in the punditry booth, having twice not commented after the abuse was brought up.
One X user wrote:
“Jamie Carragher flat out ignoring the Semenyo racial incident TWICE on commentary when Peter Drury has brought it up is pretty awful tbh. Not a single word of condemnation.’
Another user posted:
“Jamie Carragher very vocal on the red card shout but absolutely silent on the claims of racism from his own fans?”
A third also said:
“Jamie Carragher mentions every single move Chelsea make but silent on this Semenyo thing? That’s very interesting.'”
Carragher and Neville React to Racist Abuse Incident at Anfield
Meanwhile, Carragher and Gary Neville addressed the alleged racist abuse of Antoine Semenyo during the half-time break of Liverpool’s clash with Bournemouth.
Carragher described the incident as “shocking,” noting:
“You can see everyone getting together, not quite sure what’s going on. All the campaigns we have all across the world, it’s shocking. I mean, it’s a shocking incident and rightly reported to the referee.”
The issue was revisited after the final whistle, following a powerful interview with Bournemouth captain Adam Smith.
Neville branded the incident “despicable,” while Carragher questioned how clubs and the Premier League can effectively police “one idiot in the crowd.”
“Listen, I think there is a lot of good work that gets done up and down the country in terms of the football side of it,” Carragher added.
‘I understand where Adam Smith is coming from, “these things aren’t working”… but it’s also one idiot in a crowd, how would you police that one person in a crowd?
‘Obviously, you just mentioned despicable. It makes it difficult if that’s from the Premier League, the Football League, the FA.
Eyewitness on how Semenyo was abused
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that an eyewitness detailed how the shocking racial abuse against Antoine Semenyo played out at Anfield.
The offender, a veteran Liverpool supporter, is now braced for severe sanctions over his appalling conduct.
Source: YEN.com.gh
