The punishment isn't enough. It's
unacceptable. It shouldn't be happening
in this day and age. Punishment has to
be maximal. There has to be something
else done.
>> Antoine, thank you so much for your
time. An instant like what happened to
you last weekend um at any time is
obviously shocking, but the first 30
minutes into a new season makes it even
more so, doesn't it?
>> Yeah. Um it's kind of shocking to be
honest. I feel like um there was so much
emotion behind the game. Um, obviously
Jotto and his brother passing. So I felt
like it was just a great way to
symbolize like the first game of the
season and obviously 30 minutes in like
the unexpected happened to be honest. So
pretty shocked.
>> What went through your mind when it did
happen?
>> Um, a lot of things to be honest. I
think um, I wanted to react but I knew
that wasn't the right thing to do. So, I
just stayed calm and I knew when the
ball went out again, I just informed the
referee of what happened.
>> So, you immediately thought, I have to
do something about this.
>> Yeah, definitely 100%. I wasn't going to
stay silent. I think um some players end
up telling the referee after the game
where the fan is still in the stadium or
maybe left by then, but I made sure that
I told him straight away.
>> And you were very calm over the whole
thing.
>> Yeah, very calm. I'm not usually that
calm when things like this happen, but
um I knew that was the right thing to do
in that moment.
>> How did it make you feel what he said?
>> Um it was uh pretty sad to hear to be
honest. I feel like in this day and age
we're still us players getting racially
abused and it just doesn't make sense
and we just want to know why it keeps
happening. Um but yeah, it was pretty
painful to hear I must say.
>> A lot of people will say you were very
brave to report it to the referee to
have the game stopped. Is is that the
way you say it?
>> Uh, I feel like it was the right thing
to do. I wasn't going to hide away. Like
I said, um, felt like the referee had to
know what was going on and I feel like
if I didn't say anything, it would have
played on my mind. So, feel like I'd
done the right thing.
>> And what was going through your mind in
between the time when it happened and
and before you could tell the referees?
>> Um, I just wanted the ball to go out of
play as quick as possible if I'm honest.
Um and obviously Liverpool were keeping
the ball but um yeah soon as the ball
went out went straight away to the
referee let him know what happened and
yeah he went to the fourth officials and
just went from there.
>> During that time or afterwards did you
think about what the ramifications might
be?
>> Um I did but I think I was so focused on
the game so I just made sure I reported
it and whatever be would be. So, I knew
that the police and the stewards and
stuff were doing their um doing whatever
they needed to do on the side. So, I
just wanted to continue with the game.
>> And of course, you made a huge impact in
the game. Was that partly fueled by what
happened?
>> Uh yeah, I I went in at half time and I
was pretty angry to be honest. Like I
think I got to the realization of what
actually happened. Um but yeah, use it
as fuel, use it as motivation and uh
yeah, there's two goals you could say
came from that.
Have you ever been concerned in the past
about a potential backlash if you have a
bad game on on social media or in
stadium?
>> Um, I mean, every player goes through a
good game and every player goes through
a bad. So, I'm not really concerned
about what people have to say. Everyone
has their own opinions, but I think I'm
the person. I'm the player. I need to
make sure I react for the next game. So,
I'm not too concerned on what they say.
>> Were you happy with how everything
worked out?
>> No, 100%. And I feel like everyone's
been so supportive. Family, friends,
players, everyone, everyone's been so
supportive and I can't thank them
enough.
>> Your captain said after the game, you
looked down. Is that a fair reflection
on how you were in the change room after
everything had finished?
>> Yeah, there was there was a lot of
emotion. I felt like I wanted to do
something if I if I'm honest. I felt
like I wanted to say something back. I
knew what I done was the right thing to
do, but I feel like once I processed
everything in the change room, I was
just like, "No, like this isn't right."
So, I did feel some emotions and I was
down a little bit.
>> Do you find it sometimes hard to
understand why still here in 2025 that
you as a black footballer are open to
this sort of abuse?
>> Yeah, it's uh it's mindboggling to be
honest. I feel like the punishment isn't
enough when things like this happen. So,
I feel like with what's happening now, I
feel like there has to be great
punishment. I feel like going forward as
well for any players that I've met might
have experienced it. They shouldn't shy
away from reporting and make sure that
the punishment is maximum cuz it's
in this day and age.
>> And do you think that's one of the most
important tools towards trying to make
progress here?
>> Yeah, 100%. The punishment has to be
maximal. I feel like people do get away
with it. Um I feel like us having the
football association here is definitely
a help in other countries. Other players
go through things like this and they
don't have the support system that I do.
So I'm just speaking out for all players
that if it does happen, make sure that
the maximum punishment is something that
happens.
>> And what what would you say that maximum
punishment is? H
>> could be jail time. It could be banned
from stadiums for a lifetime. It could
be anything along the lines of that. But
I feel like there has to be something
else done
>> because it seems like we've had a lot of
campaigns, a lot of outrage in the past
10 years, but it's still happening.
>> Yeah, I feel like those campaigns,
they've worked for a while, but for the
long term, it hasn't really worked. So,
I feel like something else needs to be
done.
>> The other thing that happened is
obviously you put out a very thoughtful
message on Instagram.
>> Yeah.
>> But you still managed to attract online
abuse.
>> Can you can you explain? Yeah. Um got
back on the coach and just going through
my messages wanted to reply back to
family and friends to be honest and then
obviously popped across and seen on
Instagram I was getting racially abused
as well. And it's just like straight
after the game that's happened someone's
felt the need to come online and do
that. So yeah, that that made me angry
to be honest. And it's just like why why
would you want to do that? If you had a
direct line to people like that, what
would you say to them?
>> If if you're going to be online, going
to be on social media, there's no point
abusing players. Like, just use it for
the right reasons. Don't use it for the
wrong reasons. That's what I would say.
>> Can you explain actually what looking at
messages and and seeing that how it
impacts you?
>> Yeah, like it's tough mentally. like I'm
just a normal black man who loves
playing football, loves family and
friends and yeah, you feel the need to
racially abuse them. It just doesn't
make sense. There's no purpose and
everyone wants to know why you feel like
that's the right thing to do. So yeah,
it's pretty frustrating, but yeah,
something needs to be done. Like I say,
>> I suppose it impacts every person in a
in a different way. Does does it impact
you psychologically in in any way?
>> Um, I don't think it does. I feel like
I'm mentally really tough and you know,
you never want to see these things
happen to you, but at the same time,
it's not going to stop me for what I've
worked from all my life to be a
footballer and enjoy. So, I know it
comes with ups and downs, but this
shouldn't be part of the downs for sure.
>> Um, the lioness's during the Euros who
suffered similar abuse online decided to
stop taking the knee, which was their
statement.
the Premier League is going to carry on
doing that focused, but are they going
to carry on? Do you think
that should carry on?
>> Yeah, I definitely think it should carry
on. I feel like it's a campaign that
started and I feel like with everything
happening now, I feel like we still need
to we still need to do it. We need to
make a statement like black lives do
matter. So, um yeah, definitely want to
continue that.
>> And you obviously were born in in the UK
and grew up in the UK. Do do you see the
sort of abuse or did you experience the
sort of abuse you're you're getting now
or have had recently as you as you were
growing up?
>> Um yeah, it's funny because my mom when
everything happened um was telling me a
story when I was young um in nursery and
a kid told me that I was ugly because of
my skin color. And I went back home said
to my mom like this is what the kids
told me. And my mom was like, "Never
believe anybody that says that you're
beautiful, you're kind inside out, so
never let that affect you." So I've had
it as a kid, but as a kid, you don't
really know what's going on. But I feel
like now I understand. And it's not
right. It's just not right.
>> And obviously it isn't football's
problem. It goes way beyond that. But
football has great influence, doesn't
it? Football can influence the way
people behave.
>> 100%. I feel like we've got so many good
role models in the Premier League who
set an example for everyone. So feel
like everyone just needs to follow in
that need in that lead whether it's fans
whether it's players like I feel like we
just need to stand together when things
like this happen which everyone has and
just continue.
>> When you talk about standing together
would you ever consider
walking off a pitch for example?
>> Um I wouldn't want to. I feel like like
my team are always going to support me
throughout a incident like this which
they did and I would never want to
jeopardize a game for that. But I feel
like if nothing's changing, it could
come to that.
>> Wayne Rooney said this week in his
podcast that he thinks clubs maybe
should be fined or have even have points
deducted. Do you think that's the way we
could go?
>> Um, I feel like if things aren't
changing, feel like that could be
something to look at, but I feel like
that might be a bit farfetched, but who
knows? I mean, if nothing changes, then
that is something to look at. the boss
of the Premier League told me last week
that he thinks that football has moved a
bit um and it and things are better. Do
you do you agree with that?
>> Um I feel like it is and to a certain
extent but then I feel like there's
always moments like this that happen
throughout the season whether it might
be once or twice it shouldn't happen at
all. So it has to a certain extent, but
I feel like we still go back to
incidents like this happening and
punishment not being maximal enough for
those that are committing these these
saying these offensive words and just
being racist. I feel like like I said, I
feel like we need to do more in terms of
punishment.
>> How much do you hope that what you've
just been through Yeah.
>> may kickstart something that returns
something more positive?
>> Yeah, definitely. I feel like that's
that's the whole purpose of this. I feel
like I want to show for myself and for
other players that they can be strong
through this, like have the right
support around them and just be strong
mentally. Like it's always tough when
you get racially abused, but you just
have to stay strong and pray to God
always.
>> And and do you think that the publicity
around this incident
um will deter people within stadium?
>> I'd like to I'd like to think so. I hope
it does, but if it doesn't, then it just
shows that what we're doing, what the
Premier League are doing, it's not
enough and there's more that needs to be
done. So, I hope it does.
>> Presumably,
you don't want this instant to define
your season and you proved that by how
you perform at Anfield.
>> Yeah. Um, I mean, I don't want this
situation to just be the face of my
whole season. I feel like it's going to
be a good season. We got a good team
around us. So feel like I just want to
be positive, put this put this away and
continue with a good season hopefully.
>> You talk about your mental strength.
Some players who've gone through what
you've been through might not find it so
easy. What would you say to them?
>> Find support. You've got family. You've
got friends to talk to. You've got the
PFA. You've got the football association
as well. So I feel like if someone is
going through a tough time with racial
abuse, there's so many support lines
that you can use to to get help. And
when you go back onto the pitch
tomorrow,
it's something that won't cross your
mind.
>> No, it won't cross my mind. I just want
to enjoy the game of football, get some
goals, and have play with a smile on my
face. So, no, it won't affect me.
>> And what would your message to the wider
football family be about this?
>> Um, just want to say thank you for
everyone that supported me through this.
Um, I really do appreciate all my
family, all my friends, my teammates,
the football world. Um, yeah, we just
have to stay strong, stay united,
>> and looking forward to the to the rest
of the season. Do you have personal
ambitions?
>> Yeah, I always have personal ambitions.
I always write it down for myself, and I
like to keep that quiet and then it
comes out at the end of the season. So,
hopefully I get them.
>> You made a good start.
>> Thank you. I have made a good start. Um,
and I want to continue that. So, yeah,
it's a long old season. There's going to
be ups and downs, but always have to be
prepared for that.
>> And of course, there's Ghana, too.
>> Yes, internationals. Um, we've got World
Cup qualifiers coming up, so looking
forward to that as well, going back home
to see some family and friends and then
hopefully getting two wins.
>> And if you had one final message about
about the incident, how it impacted you,
uh, what would that what would it be?
>> Um, we need to stay united. We need to
make sure if it happens to players,
they're vocal about it. They don't hide
it away, they don't shy away. And yeah,
we've got a big unit of support from
players from the PFA and the FA. Like I
said, so we just utilize them.
>> Don't accept it. Confront it
>> 100%.
110%.