Antoine Semenyo believes that prison sentences should be considered a punishment for racial abuse in football, after his “painful” experiences by a supporter last week.
The first game of the new Premier League season was marred by an incident in which the Bournemouth Forward was said to be the target of a Pitch-Side spectator in Anfield during the 4-2 defeat of Liverpool.
Ghana International, born in London, who scored twice in the match, reported the incident to referee Anthony Taylor and a 47-year-old man was then arrested.
The man was released on a bail on suspicion of an exacerbated infringement of public order and is prohibited for every regulated football match in the UK as part of his bail conditions.
In his first interview about this, Semenyo ITV News told that even more had to be done – by both football and legal authorities.
“Whatever the Premier League does, it's not enough and there is more to be done,” he said.
He expanded the theme and added: “It can be imprisonment, it can be banned from stadiums for a lifetime, it can be something in the style, but I feel that there must be something else.”
The 25-year-old, who thanked the teammates, opponents and fans who showed him support on the day, also revealed that he was subject to further abuse on social media in the aftermath of the incident.
“I feel it just doesn't make sense this time and we want to know why it continues to happen. It was pretty painful to hear,” he said.
“I stepped back on the coach and I just went through my messages. I wanted to answer family and friends back to be honest, and then it was clearly about the screen on Instagram. I was also racistly abused, and it was just like immediately after the game that happened.
“Someone has felt the need to get online and to do that, so that made me angry, to be honest. Why would you want to do that?”