Liverpool has moved swiftly to sentence a banner unfurled by followers at their away UEFA Champions League match at Gent that featured Divock Origi’s head on a unadorned physique, alongside the Champions League trophy.
The banner was criticized by the membership in a press release issued earlier than kick-off, with the membership making clear its disgust of the racial nature of its illustration.
“To be clear, the picture used perpetuated a racist stereotype,” the assertion started.
“That is fully unacceptable.
“Liverpool Soccer Membership condemns the offensive banner displayed in our part of the bottom, previous to kick-off.
So this flag for Origi. Are individuals offended by this? pic.twitter.com/olZjPwytga
— Sunny Edwards (@SunnyEdwards) October 23, 2019
“We acted swiftly to have the banner eliminated and we at the moment are working with the native authorities and stadium group in Genk to establish these accountable.
“Any subsequent motion will probably be taken in step with our sanctions course of.”
Orig began his soccer profession at Genk and spent 9 years within the membership’s academy earlier than becoming a member of Lille in 2010. He went on to hitch Liverpool, the place he performed an instrumental position in serving to the membership seize the UEFA Champions League title final season.
And when he was launched from the bench within the last minutes of the match, the Belgian striker acquired an enormous ovation from all 4 sides of the bottom as he was welcomed again to his first membership.
