Liverpool fans are criticised for an 'offensive' banner paying tribute to Luis Diaz, which references the notorious cocaine trade in Colombia - and misspells the name of his homeland

  • Liverpool fans have headed out en masse to Paris for the Champions League final
  • A group of Reds supporters have created a banner for Luis Diaz for the game
  • 'Only Columbia's finest gets through Liverpool customs,' the banner read
  • The banner has been met with criticism for its apparent message online 

Liverpool fans have been slammed for an 'offensive' banner which appears to make reference to drug-smuggling and the alleged illegal drug trade in Luis Diaz's native Colombia.

Images of the banner, created ahead of the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris on Saturday, surfaced on social media.

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'Only Colombia's [sic] finest gets through Liverpool customs,' the banner reads. 

Liverpool fans have faced criticism for the banner paying tribute to Colombia's Luis Diaz

Diaz, who has been a standout performer for the Reds since joining from Porto in January for an initial fee of £37million, will hope to have an impact in the crunch showdown in the French capital.

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Liverpool supporters had been trying to honour the 25-year-old with the banner, but it has been met with a critical response - both for the misspelling of 'Colombia' and its implied message.

'With respect, this is national stereotyping that Diaz would hate,' said one Twitter user, while a second added: 'I just hope Luis doesn't see this.'

Luis Diaz (left) has travelled out to Paris with the Liverpool squad for the Champions League final
The 25-year-old Colombian has made an instant impact at Anfield since joining from Porto

Another user wrote: 'Well done. You managed to insult Luis Diaz's country twice. By misspelling Colombia and stereotyping the nation into this drug-infested country cause you get all your cultural lessons from Narcos.'

The banner was called 'inappopriate' and 'offensive' by other social media accounts. 

Diaz has scored six goals and made five assists in his 25 appearances for Liverpool, and has impressed with the way he has immediately fit in to Jurgen Klopp's side.

The Colombian star is not guaranteed to start the final against Real - where Liverpool will be aiming to win a third trophy of the season - and may be named on the bench by Klopp.

Upwards of 60,000 Liverpool supporters are expected in Paris for the final at the Stade de France but the two teams were only given 19,618 tickets each.