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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says he stands with Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo after the 25-year-old reported racial abuse during the first half of the opening Premier League game of the new season.
Referee Anthony Taylor paused the match just before the half-hour mark, with Semenyo having spoken to the match officials regarding the alleged incident. Merseyside Police have since confirmed that an investigation is underway after a 47-year-old man was ejected from Anfield.
"I've had loads of conversations with him about it," Van Dijk told reporters after the game. "First and foremost, I wanted to know what happened. I am glad the authorities are dealing with it all. That is the main thing.
"But we stand with him completely and I think every one of you here would say the same thing: these things can't happen. So anything he needs for support, I am here for him.
"We are all here for him, to be honest but the club as well and they are dealing with it in the right way, I am fully confident about that. Especially the authorities have to deal with it now and like I said these things can't happen, whatsoever."
Liverpool won the game through late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah, but the result was overshadowed by the allegations made in the first half.
"No, I can't believe it," Van Dijk said. "I can say these things that it shouldn't happen, but unfortunately it does, and it is an absolute disgrace in my eyes.
"First and foremost, these things should never happen in the world, not only football. I am happy to say I don't see it happening up until today actually and that is why I say that it is a disgrace that it could happen.
"But in general, racism is not of this world in my opinion. But if we are to be realistic, unfortunately, it still exists and that is the dangerous side of it.
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"We have to deal with it in the here and now and like I said, I am here for Antoine, whenever he needs it, and we are here as a club to deal with it in the best way possible because it shouldn't happen."
Premier League stars have taken the knee in recent times, while there have been campaigns such as Kick Racism out of Football aimed at educating those involved in the game and preventing instances of racism.
"What else can we do? Because this is the very odd one that has managed to be something that is a disgrace," Van Dijk said.
"The only thing we can do is deal with it with (the perpetrator) personally and try to educate the next generation. That is the only way to try and kick it out in my opinion. It's tricky, but that is the only way we can try and can kick it out."
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