Liverpool aim to identify fans behind 'highly offensive' Divock Origi banner at Genk clash

Liverpool have vowed to identify the fans who brought a “highly offensive” banner depicting a naked Divock Origi to the Reds’ Champions League showdown with Genk.

Liverpool fans unfurled the banner in the away end of Genk’s Cristal Arena ahead of Wednesday night’s Group E fixture in Belgium.

It depicted an image of Liverpool striker Origi which had been augmented to fulfil a racist stereotype.

The incident comes after football across Europe has been blighted by a spate of incidents involving racist abuse.

Liverpool have vowed to take speedy action to track down the supporters responsible for the banner making its way to the game against Genk.

A Liverpool spokesperson said: “The banner is highly offensive and inappropriate.

“We condemn its use at the game tonight and sought to have it removed as soon as we became aware.

“We will look to identify those responsible for bringing it into the stadium and act accordingly.”

Origi was named among the substitutes as Jurgen Klopp went with his all-star front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino from the off.

And he will have been desperate to get some action as Liverpool took on Genk, the club he made his first strides in professional football with.

The unfurling of the banner, though, threatened to overshadow Origi’s return to Genk as it continued a trend of racially insensitive behaviour.

Origi’s Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold was the victim of alleged racist abuse during last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

United have banned the supporter alleged to have been behind the behaviour and are committed to taking “strong action” in the event of future incidents.

source: express.co.uk