FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly condemned the racist abuse directed at AFC Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during their Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday night.
The incident, which caused a temporary stoppage in the match, drew widespread outrage across the football community. In a statement shared on his Instagram account, Infantino described the abuse as “absolutely unacceptable,” reaffirming FIFA’s zero-tolerance stance on racism.
“Football has no place for racism or any form of discrimination,” Infantino said. “Antoine’s courage and performance on the pitch, despite such adversity, is a powerful example of strength and dignity for players worldwide.”
He further revealed that FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel—established as part of the five-pillar framework against racism adopted by the FIFA Congress in 2024—would be directly engaging with Semenyo. The panel, he said, is closely monitoring such incidents to ensure that players are both respected and protected.
Infantino stressed that football authorities and law enforcement agencies must take strong and decisive measures against perpetrators of racist abuse.
“Everyone at FIFA, The Players’ Voice Panel, and the whole football community stands firmly with Antoine,” he added. “We will continue to offer our unequivocal support to him, Bournemouth, the Premier League, and The FA to ensure strong deterrents are in place, and actions taken, to eradicate racism and discrimination from our game.”
Semenyo’s response on the pitch—delivering a resilient performance despite the abuse—has been hailed as an act of remarkable composure and strength. The Premier League and Bournemouth have also pledged to work with relevant authorities in investigating the incident and ensuring accountability.
The episode adds to growing calls for tougher sanctions and stronger protections for players facing racism both online and in stadiums, with FIFA reiterating its commitment to stamping out all forms of discrimination in football.
