Luis Manuel Díaz (brown jacket) has reappeared. © APA/afp / STRINGER

Liverpool star's kidnapped father is free

The kidnapped father of Colombian national soccer player Luis Díaz has been released after almost two weeks.

09 November 2023

From: apa/dpa

He was taken in a helicopter to Valledupar airport in Cesar department, as seen on Caracol television on Thursday. According to media reports, the liberation process took place under the leadership of the Catholic Church and a UN commission.

“We are pleased with the news of the safe return of Luis Díaz's father and thank everyone involved in his release,” Liverpool wrote X (formerly Twitter). The Reds also shared the message from the Colombian national team, who also thanked the national government, the armed forces and the police, among others.

Luis Díaz campaigned for his father's release. © APA/afp / OLI SCARFF

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro recently called on the left-wing guerrilla organization ELN for the father's immediate release. The professional from the English Premier League club Liverpool himself also addressed the kidnappers directly after scoring a goal in a game with the inscription “Freedom for Dad” on his T-shirt and a moving statement afterwards.

Luis Manuel Díaz and his wife were abducted by a rebel group unit on October 28 in the Guajira department in the northeast of the country. While the Liverpool professional's mother was rescued shortly afterwards, his father was still in the hands of the guerrillas.