Manchester City star Antoine Semenyo was left shocked and upset after allegedly being racially abused by a Liverpool supporter during a Premier League match at Anfield, a court has heard.
Mark Mogan, 47, is accused of directing abuse at Semenyo, who was playing for Bournemouth at the time, during the opening game of last season on August 15. Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard today (October 14) that the alleged incident happened around 30 minutes into the match, as Semenyo prepared to take a throw-in.
Prosecution details alleged abuse
Prosecutor Simon Jones told the court the footballer saw Mogan, a wheelchair-user, to his right before allegedly hearing him shout: “Hurry up and take the throw-in, you black b*****d.”
Mr Jones said: “That racial abuse was shouted directly at Antoine Semenyo, who was close to him. Mr Semenyo briefly froze as he couldn’t believe what the male had said.”
The court heard Mogan then continued shouting at the footballer, saying: “I’m talking to you, you c***”. Mr Jones said: “He looked straight at Antoine Semenyo when directing this abuse to him.
“Antoine Semenyo didn’t say anything back to him and went to take the throw-in, however he was clearly hurt and upset with the racial abuse that had come his way.”
Incident reported to referee
Semenyo reported the incident to match referee Anthony Taylor when the ball next went out of play, the court was told. Mogan was subsequently removed from the stadium at half-time.
Two short video clips of the incident were shown to the court, with Mr Jones describing the defendant as appearing in an “agitated and angry state”. The prosecution also alleged Mogan removed chewing gum from his mouth and threw it towards Semenyo, hitting the right-hand side of his shorts.
Mr Jones said: “We say that was plainly an unsavoury action from an angry man.” The court also heard evidence from fellow Liverpool supporters who witnessed the incident.
Witness accounts and police interview
In a statement read out in court, Neil Sherratt, who said he sits next to Mogan at matches, described seeing the defendant leave his bay in the disabled section of the Main Stand and move towards the pitch as Semenyo approached to take the throw-in. Mr Sherratt said he heard Mogan shout something along the lines of “hurry up” and saw the footballer turn towards him.
He said: “Semenyo had a shocked look on his face and I believe he has replied back by saying ‘you what’.”
Another supporter, Nicholas Collins, told the court Mogan became “very cocky and brazen” following the incident. Mr Collins said the defendant remarked: “If the bizzies [police] come I’m going to deck them. I’m not going anywhere.”
Mogan was interviewed by police the day after the match. The court heard he admitted shouting at Semenyo to hurry up, but claimed the footballer had called him a cripple, which had upset him.
Mr Jones said: “His account was that Antoine Semenyo called him a cripple which upset him. He said he then threw some chewing gum onto the floor but not at Antoine Semenyo. The prosecution say Mr Mogan clearly lied in that police interview.”
Semenyo, who has since joined Manchester City, is expected to give evidence via video link on Wednesday afternoon. Mogan, of Templehill Close, Dovecot, denies racially aggravated behaviour.
