Manchester City Condemn Racial Abuse Directed at Semenyo After Everton Clash
Manchester City have strongly condemned acts of racial abuse directed at Antoine Semenyo following their dramatic 3-3 draw against Everton in the Premier League on Monday night.
The Ghana international was subjected to racially abusive insults from a section of supporters during the heated contest, as frustrations spilled over in the stands.
The incident has since sparked widespread criticism, with City moving quickly to denounce the behaviour and reaffirm their stance against discrimination in football.
In an official statement released, the club made their position unequivocally clear. “Manchester City strongly condemns the racist abuse directed towards Antoine Semenyo at yesterday’s match.”
The statement underscores the growing urgency within the game to confront racism both inside stadiums and across digital platforms, as players continue to face abuse despite ongoing campaigns aimed at eradicating the issue.
Swift action and wider concerns
City also acknowledged the immediate intervention by Everton’s matchday staff and local authorities, which led to the identification and arrest of the individual responsible. The club praised the rapid response as a necessary step in holding offenders accountable.
We welcome the swift action taken by Everton and the police to identify the individual responsible.”
The response from Everton’s stewards has been widely seen as a benchmark for how such incidents should be handled in real time, with clubs increasingly under pressure to ensure safe and inclusive environments for players and supporters alike.
However, the situation extended beyond the events at the stadium. City confirmed that defender Marc Guéhi was also subjected to racist abuse online in the aftermath of the match, highlighting the persistent nature of the problem across multiple platforms.
We are also incredibly disappointed to hear that Marc Guéhi was subject to a series of vile racist social media posts last night.”
The club reiterated its commitment to standing by both players, emphasizing that such conduct has no place in football or society.
We will continue to offer our full support to both Antoine and Marc and never accept discrimination of any kind in our game.”
Both Semenyo and Guéhi only joined Manchester City in January but have quickly become central figures in the club’s resurgence this season. After a difficult start to the campaign, their arrivals have helped transform City into genuine title contenders.
Semenyo, who completed a high-profile move from AFC Bournemouth, has delivered consistently in attack. His pace, physicality and directness have added a new dimension to City’s forward line, with the Ghanaian contributing eight goals and three assists since his arrival.
His overall tally of 15 league goals this season marks a historic milestone, the highest ever by a Ghanaian player in a single Premier League campaign.
Guéhi, meanwhile, has brought composure and authority to the backline following his switch from Crystal Palace. His defensive leadership has been instrumental in stabilizing a unit that struggled for consistency earlier in the season.
While their performances on the pitch have drawn praise, the events surrounding Monday’s match serve as a stark reminder of the challenges players continue to face off it. Football authorities, clubs and advocacy groups have repeatedly called for stronger measures to combat racism, yet incidents persist at both grassroots and elite levels.