Luis Diaz, a Colombian winger for Liverpool, has made a heartfelt plea to his father’s kidnappers, stating that he and his siblings are “desperate” for their father’s safe return.
In the town of Barrancas, which is close to the border between Colombia and Venezuela, armed men riding motorcycles kidnapped the 26-year-old’s parents last Saturday while they were at a gas station.
Luis Diaz pleads with father’s kidnappers to release him
When police put up barricades, they quickly found Cilenis Marulanda; however, the search for his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, is still ongoing.
The government of Colombia has placed the blame for the kidnapping on the National Liberation Army (ELN), which is a rebel group. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the insurgents stated that Diaz’s father would be freed “as soon as possible.”
After Diaz scored an equaliser for Liverpool against Luton in the Premier League match on Sunday, he released a statement asking the ELN for the “prompt release of my father.” This came after Diaz scored an equaliser for Liverpool against Luton.
In addition to this, he appealed to “international organisations” to take action for his release.
The athlete is quoted as saying, “Every second, every minute, our anguish grows; my mother, my brothers, and I are desperate and anguished, and we do not have the words to describe what we are feeling.”
“This suffering will only end when we have him back home.”
In addition, he stated, “I beg you to release him immediately, respecting his integrity and putting an end to this agonising wait as soon as possible.”
“In the name of love and compassion, we ask you to reconsider your actions and allow us to get him back.”
Diaz referred to his father as “our pillar in the family” and described him as a “tireless worker.”
The president stated: “I thank Colombians and the international community for the support we’ve received. Thank you for so many demonstrations of affection and solidarity in this difficult moment that many families in my country are going through.”
Diaz returned to training on Friday, and then on Saturday, he came off the bench to save Liverpool from suffering an unexpected loss at Luton by scoring an injury-time equaliser that secured a 1-1 draw for the Reds.
Diaz removed his shirt in joy to see a message that read “libertad para papa,” or “freedom for my father,” written on a white T-shirt.