Mark Mogan outside Liverpool Magistrates' Court
Mark Mogan outside Liverpool Magistrates' Court
A man is due to stand trial today accused of racially abusing footballer Antoine Semenyo during a match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield Stadium. The Premier League fixture in August last year was temporarily halted following the incident, which occurred when the winger was preparing to take a throw-in near to the Main Stand.
Mark Mogan, of Templehill Close in Dovecot, has since been charged with a racially-aggravated public order offence in connection with the altercation. The 47-year-old is listed to appear before Liverpool Magistrates' Court this morning, Monday, in order to face a trial over this single count, having pleaded not guilty during an earlier hearing in December.
Mogan was released on bail until today's date under conditions not to contact Semenyo, attend any football match or enter within one mile of any stadium two hours before or one hour after kick off. His case is listed in courtroom 24 from 10am, with the ECHO providing live updates from the trial.
Semenyo scored both of Bournemouth's two goals during his side's 4-2 defeat during the 2025/26 season's opening game on August 15 2025. The Ghanaian international went on to join Manchester City in the January transfer window for a fee of around £65million.
In a statement issued in the aftermath of the incident, an LFC spokesman said: "Liverpool Football Club is aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against Bournemouth. We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms.
"It has no place in society, or football. The club is unable to comment further as tonight's alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully."
Posting on social media, Semenyo added: "Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever, not because of one person's words but because of how the entire football family stood together. To my Bournemouth teammates who supported me in that moment, to the Liverpool players and fans who showed their true character, to the Premier League officials who handled it professionally, thank you.
"Football showed its best side when it mattered most. Scoring those two goals felt like speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch.
"This is why I play, for moments like these, for my teammates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be. The overwhelming messages of support from across the football world remind me why I love this sport. We keep moving forward, together."