By LUKE POWER, SPORTS REPORTER
Published: 15:24 EST, 22 December 2025 | Updated: 15:24 EST, 22 December 2025
A Liverpool fan has denied racially abusing Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo during a Premier League match in August.
Mark Mogan of Templehill Close, Dovecot, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Monday. He pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated disorderly behaviour.
The alleged incident occurred on the opening day of the Premier League season, as Semenyo went to take a throw in.
TV footage appeared to show him having an exchange with a fan who was in a wheelchair in the disabled section, and who pushed himself toward the player before turning and spinning away.
The Ghanaian player, who scored a brace in the game, brought the incident to the attention of match referee Anthony Taylor and the game was briefly halted while both managers and captains were spoken to.
At half-time an announcement was made to the crowd asking for no racist abuse and pictures on social media showed a man in a wheelchair being escorted along the touchline and out of the ground.
A Liverpool fan has pleaded not guilty to racially abusing Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo
Merseyside Police later announced a man had been arrested and then was bailed for three months pending further investigations.
Mogan, a Liverpool season ticket holder, is single with no children and lives in a social housing bungalow in the city with his mother.
He has been in a wheelchair since being born with a medical condition and receives disability benefits.
As part of his bail conditions he has been forbidden to attend any football match.
If found guilty of racism, Mogan will be banned by Liverpool for life.
Pictures on social media showed Mogan playing wheelchair basketball for a team called the Greenbank Meteors while other images show him posing with Liverpool legends Robbie Fowler and Emile Heskey.