The father of Liverpool winger Luis Diaz is expected to be released by the Colombian rebel group Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) in the near future.
Luis Manuel Diaz and his wife Cilenis Marulanda were kidnapped by armed gunmen on October 28, with the latter being released shortly afterward. Due to the distressing situation, Diaz opted out of Liverpool’s recent victories against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, returning in the 1-1 draw at Luton Town on Sunday. In that game, the 26-year-old scored a 95th-minute equalizer and displayed a shirt with the message “Freedom for Papa” in Spanish.
After the match, the ELN issued a warning that the release of Diaz Sr was in jeopardy due to the presence of government security officials. However, a prominent Colombian outlet, Caracol, reports that the ELN has agreed to release him soon, delivering him to United Nations officials “in compliance with last-minute protocols acquired with the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace.”
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Following his goal at Luton, Diaz made a heartfelt plea to ELN for the release of his father, saying, “Here’s not the player speaking. Today’s Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz. Mane, my dad, hardworking man, family pillar…he’s now kidnapped.”
“I ask ELN to release my father as soon as possible. I also ask the international associations to work on that in order to guarantee his freedom.
“Every second, every minute we’re more worried. We’ve no words to describe our family’s terrible feelings, and it will be the same as long as he’s not back at home.
“I beg you to release my father right now, respecting his integrity.
“I want to thank to all Colombians and also the international community for your support.”