Luiz Díaz's emotional plea following late equalizer for Liverpool as his kidnapped father remains missing
Liverpool's Luiz Díaz passionately implores the safe return of his abducted father to their Colombian family, after his remarkable stoppage-time equalizer
Liverpool player Luis Díaz has pleaded for the safe return of his father, who was kidnapped, to his family in Colombia. Díaz made this heartfelt appeal after coming on as a substitute and scoring a late equalizer during Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Luton Town on Sunday.
After the Premier League game, Díaz expressed his family's growing anguish, desperation, anxiety, and inability to describe their feelings, as they are still waiting for the release of his father, Luis Manuel Díaz, who is being held captive by the Colombian rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The suffering can only cease once we are reunited with [my father] in our home. I implore the ELN to promptly release him, honoring his dignity and putting an end to this agonizing anticipation.
Out of love and compassion, we earnestly implore you to reconsider your deeds and grant us the opportunity to bring him back to safety.
A demonstration in Barrancas, Colombia, on Sunday calls for DÃaz's father to be released.
Díaz's mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was abducted at a gas station in the family's hometown of Barrancas, situated in the northern La Guajira region of Colombia. However, she was ultimately rescued.
Police and military are currently conducting an extensive search operation for Díaz's father.
After his parents' kidnapping, the 26-year-old forward traveled back to Colombia and then returned to the UK in preparation for Liverpools' game against Luton.
In the 5th minute of stoppage time, shortly after coming on as a substitute in the second half, Díaz scored an equalizer for Liverpool by heading in a cross from Harvey Elliott. To honor his father, he joyfully lifted his shirt, revealing an undershirt bearing the message "Libertad para papa" - translated as "Freedom for dad."
Díaz requested on X that the ELN promptly release his father, and urged international organizations to intervene for his freedom.
Following the game, Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, described Díaz's goal as "amazing," "emotional," and "fantastic." However, he also acknowledged that "the underlying issue remains unresolved."
Klopp embraces DÃaz after Sunday's game.
Clive Rose/Getty Images
He continued: "I think the signs from Colombia are rather positive, optimistic, but the one thing we all want to hear, it didnt happen yet."
Tahith Chong opened the scoring for Luton at Kenilworth Road, but DÃaz's late goal ultimately ended the match in a draw. This result propelled Liverpool to third place in the Premier League table, while Luton managed to escape the relegation zone and now sits at 17th.
CNNs Patrick Sung and Ilse Borrero contributed to reporting.
