Kidnapping of Luis Diaz’s parents “a mistake” – father must also be released quickly Bayern dismantles BVB – Tuchel then tears his collar during the live interview

It was an emotional moment in the English Premier League on Sunday. Luis Diaz scored Liverpool’s equalizer against Luton Town deep into injury time and at least secured a point for the ‘Reds’. But the Colombian’s thoughts were elsewhere at that moment, as he showed with a message on his stomach. ‘Libertad para papá’ – freedom for dad – was written on it.

Luis Diaz’s parents were kidnapped on October 28 by the Colombian guerrilla group ELN. While the mother was quickly found, the father, Luis Manuel Diaz, is still being held hostage. After the match, Diaz addressed the kidnappers with an official letter. ‘This gate is for the freedom of my father and all hostages in the country’, is the title. The 26-year-old writes that today he does not speak as a footballer, but as the son of a hard worker and the support of his family. “I ask the ELN for the immediate release of my father and I ask international organizations to work for his freedom,” Diaz asked.

It appears the Liverpool star’s request has been received. As the Argentine newspaper “La Nacion” writes, the military commander of the guerrilla group ELN Manuel Garcia is said to have ordered the immediate release of Diaz’s father. Accordingly, Garcia reportedly described this kidnapping in a message on Telegram as an “oversight and a mistake.”

Luis Manuel Diaz was kidnapped to extort money. But they didn’t know at the time that he was the father of the Colombian international. “’Lucho’ is a symbol for Colombia, that’s how we see it at ELN,” Garcia explains. He hoped that the “operational situation could be resolved on the ground”.

However, the ELN commander’s message has not yet been officially confirmed by any Colombian authority. According to the Ministry of Defense, 241 people have been kidnapped by criminal groups in the country this year alone. (aboo)