Luis Manuel Diaz, the father of Liverpool forward, Luis Diaz, has been released after spending 12 days in the hands of kidnappers. He was kidnapped by the guerrilla group known as the National Liberation Army (ELN) at a petrol station in Colombia near the border with Venezuela on October 28th.
In a heartwarming turn of events, while Diaz’s mother was also kidnapped during the incident, she was successfully rescued within hours, thanks to the efforts of the local police who set up roadblocks.
The situation deeply affected the Liverpool forward and Colombia international, and he expressed his emotions by scoring a late equalizer at Luton Town on Sunday. Under his jersey, he revealed a message that read ‘Libertad Para Papa’ (Freedom for Dad).
To secure Diaz’s release, special forces were deployed, conducting extensive air and land patrols across the mountainous region that spans both Colombia and Venezuela. Colombian police director vowed to use all available resources to find him.
A substantial reward of $48,000 (£39,000) was offered for information leading to Diaz’s whereabouts, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Thankfully, on November 9, he was safely handed back over to his family. Reports suggest that he was handed over to the UN humanitarian commission, the church, and medical personnel in the Serrania del Perija region.
The Colombian Football Federation expressed their gratitude to the government, military forces, national police, and all institutions involved in securing the release of Luis Manuel Diaz, the father of Liverpool’s Luis Diaz. They stressed the importance of football as a symbol of talent, dedication, and unity in Colombia and called for it to be kept free from any non-sporting influences.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro added his voice, saying, “Long live freedom and peace.”
