Antoine Semenyo froze after an alleged racist incident at Anfield, a court has been told. Prosecutors say a man named Mogan threw chewing gum at the footballer, hitting the right side of his shorts, and shouted at him during a match.
In a statement read to the court, Liverpool supporter Neil Sherratt, who sits next to Mogan at matches, said he saw Mogan approach the pitch from the disabled section of the Main Stand. Sherratt said he heard Mogan shout something along the lines of "hurry up" and saw Semenyo turn towards him with a shocked expression. He believed the footballer replied: "you what".
Another Liverpool fan, Nicholas Collins, told the court that Mogan became "very cocky and brazen" after the incident and threatened to assault police if they approached him. In a police interview the following day, Mogan said he had shouted at Semenyo to hurry up. He claimed the footballer had called him "a cripple", which had upset him, and said he had thrown chewing gum on to the floor rather than at Semenyo.
The prosecution's case is that Mogan lied during that police interview. Semenyo, who was born in London to Ghanaian parents and has represented Ghana at the World Cup, is expected to give evidence over a videolink. Mogan, of Templehill Close, Dovecot, denies racially aggravated behaviour. The trial continues.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing