A Liverpool fan has been charged by police for allegedly racially abusing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo during a Premier League match in August.
The 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.
Merseyside Police later announced the man had been arrested and then was bailed for three months pending further investigations.
In an update, police have now confirmed the fan has been charged over the incident.
‘We can confirm that a Liverpool man has been charged in connection with an incident during a Liverpool FC match at Anfield in August,’ a Merseyside Police statement read.
‘Mark Mogan, 47, of Templehill Close, Dovecot, has been charged with Racially Aggravated Section 5 Public Order against AFC Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo, during the Premier League match on Saturday 16 August.
‘Mogan has been conditionally bailed and will next appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday 22 December.’
The Daily Mail reported in August that eyewitnesses and stewards had pointed Mogan out along the touchline following the incident.
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.
