Colombia’s Luis Diaz begs kidnappers to release father after Liverpool goal | Football News

‘Every second, every minute, our anguish grows,’ Diaz wrote in a post begging the Colombian rebel group ELN to release his father.

Luis Diaz, the Colombian footballer, passionately pleaded with the rebel group that had kidnapped his parents to release his father. This emotional plea came after Diaz scored a late equalizer for his English Premier League club, Liverpool.

Diaz had missed Liverpool’s previous two matches but had been training since Thursday. On Sunday, he was selected for the bench in the match against Luton.

In the 83rd minute, Diaz entered the game as a substitute and scored a crucial goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. This goal secured a 1-1 draw for his team at Kenilworth Road.

After scoring the goal, Diaz lifted his Liverpool shirt to reveal a white shirt with the words “Libertad Para Papa,” which means “Freedom For Papa” in English.

Following the match, Diaz took to social media to express his thoughts. He wrote, “Today the footballer is not speaking to you. Today Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz, is speaking to you. Mane, my dad, is a tireless worker, a pillar in the family, and he has been kidnapped. I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and I ask international organizations to work together for his freedom”

Este gol es por la libertad de mi padre y de todos los secuestrados de mi país.

Gracias a todos por su apoyo.🙌🏻@europapress @bbcmundo @el_pais @AFP @cruzrojacol @ONU_derechos @ONUcolombia @RevistaSemana @nytimes @Reuters @CNNEE @ElTIEMPO @elheraldoco pic.twitter.com/KuRqYkTPhv

— Luis Fernando Díaz (@LuisFDiaz19) November 5, 2023

According to Colombia’s government, the National Liberation Army (ELN), an armed rebel group, was responsible for the recent kidnapping of Diaz’s parents.

Diaz’s parents were both kidnapped in the Colombian town of Barrancas on October 28. Thankfully, his mother was rescued by the police within hours.

The government’s peace delegation, currently negotiating with ELN, officially stated that the kidnapping was carried out by one of ELN’s units.

Diaz expressed the growing anguish his family has been experiencing since his father’s kidnapping, saying, “Every second, every minute, our anguish grows.”

He continued, “My mother, my brothers, and I are desperate, distressed, and at a loss for words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering can only end when we have him back home. I implore you to release him immediately, respecting his well-being, and put an end to this painful wait as soon as possible.”

Prior to the match, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Diaz was doing well during the team’s training sessions.

Klopp stated, “All the feedback he gets, as far as I understand, is very positive. The negotiations are ongoing, but there is still a positive outlook, and that’s why [Diaz] wanted to be part of the team.”