Trial of Liverpool fan accused of racially abusing Man City star Antoine Semenyo adjourned

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Mark Mogan denies the charge he faces

The trial of a Liverpool supporter accused of racially abusing Manchester City footballer Antoine Semenyo when he played for his former club Bournemouth has been adjourned to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.

Mark Mogan, 47, was due at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today (April 22), accused of racially aggravated behaviour during a match at Anfield last August. He denies the charge.

Olivia Belle, defending, said Mogan, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, had been assessed by a psychiatric expert who found he was unfit to plead or stand trial. She said he had a 'highly complex presentation' and a history of language and communication difficulties.

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Semenyo, 26, who signed for City in January in a deal worth £64m, had been due to give evidence in the one-day trial, but the court heard witnesses had been told not to attend when it became clear the case would not go ahead.

District Judge James Hatton adjourned the case to September to allow the prosecution to obtain their own psychiatric report.

Mogan, of Templehill Close, Dovecot, was given bail with conditions including that he must not contact Semenyo, attend any regulated football matches, or go within one mile of Premier and Football League grounds around the time of games.

The defendant, who attended court with his father, is accused of directing abuse at the 26-year-old player at the Premier League Liverpool v Bournemouth fixture on August 15.

Match referee Anthony Taylor stopped play in the 29th minute after Semenyo, then a Bournemouth player, reported the abuse and a man was ejected from the stadium.

The footballer, who has since signed for Manchester City, went on to score twice in the second half to help bring Bournemouth back from two goals down at Anfield before Liverpool went on to eventually win 4-2.