Luis Diaz urges kidnappers to release his dad as Liverpool star speaks out after scoring in Premier League return
LIVERPOOL winger Luis Diaz has begged guerrilla rebels who kidnapped his dad last weekend to release him “immediately”.
In a heart-rending post on Instagram, Diaz said his family are “desperate and distressed” over the capture of Luis, 58.
He was taken hostage at gunpoint by communist ELN rebels alongside his wife on October 28 at a petrol station in Colombia.
But tonight, he demanded the militants return Luis, saying: “Every second, every minute our anguish grows.
“My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and without words to describe what we are feeling.
“This suffering will only end when we have him back home.
“I beg you to resolve this immediately, respecting your integrity and ending this painful wait as soon as possible.”
Diaz’s plea came just hours after he scored a dramatic 95 minute equaliser against Luton – lifting his shirt to reveal the words ‘Libertad Para Papa’ – ‘Freedom for my father’.
The 26-year-old had come off the bench at Kenilworth Road to secure a vital point for Liverpool who sit third in the Prem following the 1-1 draw.
His celebration sparked jubilation among Liverpool fans who have rallied behind the winger in the nine days since his dad’s horror kidnapping.
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His dad’s kidnap by communist ELN rebels is believed to have been masterminded by a 40-year-old female fighter called Patricia.
Colombian authorities have offered a reward of $200,000,000 Peso (£40,600) for Luis Diaz’s return.
The kidnap has sparked outrage in the South American nation, where Luis Diaz is immensely popular and plays for the national team.
It comes as Diaz’s mum Cilenis Marulanda held back tears today as she demanded her husband’s release.
Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with his face and the message ‘your family is waiting for you’, she told reporters: “I want them to release him now.
“That the people who are keeping him free him now back to me, because we want to have him back home.”
Gunmen accosted the couple at a petrol station in their hometown of Barrancas, in the northern province of La Guajira.
They left Cilenis in the car but dragged Luis off before police closed in.
Protests demanding the father’s release took place in the town today.
Diaz had missed Wednesday’s 2-1 EFL cup fourth round clash with Bournemouth and last weekend’s game against Nottingham Forest as he dealt with the kidnapping saga.
Manager Jürgen Klopp dedicated Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Forest to Díaz, saying it was “for our brother”.