The parents of Liverpool player Luis Diaz were abducted in Colombia on Saturday night; his father’s whereabouts are still unknown, but his mother is safe.
Luis Diaz, a top player for Liverpool, has two parents who were abducted on Saturday night. His father is still missing, and there is a reward available for his safe return. Mirror Football has gathered up to date information on the circumstances.
It has been announced that the Reds star’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, has been saved after a police pursuit that began on Saturday afternoon when the Liverpool star’s parents were abducted. It happened close to their house in the Caribbean area of Colombia, in the town of Barrancas.
Despite earlier local rumours of a firefight, Colombian officials have not been able to find his father. In an effort to keep Diaz updated on the situation, police chiefs have spoken with him. The player was left off of Liverpool’s roster for their Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The Reds honoured Diaz after Diogo Jota’s opening goal in the 3-0 victory at Anfield.
Francisco Barbosa, Colombia’s attorney general, thinks Diaz might have been sent to Venezuela. “We have information that he could be in Venezuela at some point,” he said to reporters. We must request assistance from President Gustavo Petro of Colombia in releasing Luis Diaz’s father in the event that he manages to cross the border and lands in Venezuela.”
Now that communication has been established with Venezuelan officials, additional soldiers will be sent to man the border. It coincides with the start of a significant operation by the Colombian military, which has deployed over 100 soldiers to the country’s northern mountain region. Meanwhile, helicopters and planes are scanning the skies above, barricades are being erected at ground level, and additional soldiers are patrolling in motorised vehicles.
Colombian authorities declared on Sunday afternoon that they would be giving a prize of 200 million pesos (£40,000) to anyone who could provide vital information that would enable Diaz’s father to be rescued. The football federation of Colombia also appealed to the people who had taken Diaz’s father hostage. In a statement, they requested that Luis Manuel Diaz, the father of Luis F. Diaz, be released immediately and without any restrictions. “Peace is in football. We’re with you, Luis. Colombia is on your side.
A video showing General William Salamanca, the police director who is currently in charge of the effort to get Diaz’s father back to safety, talking to the Liverpool winger in the wee hours of the morning was made public earlier in the day by the authorities.
According to Semana’s initial account, Salamanca informed Diaz during their initial connection that the president of Colombia had given him the command to spearhead the rescue effort and that his mother was “safe and sound.” “We are here using all of the police’s air and ground capabilities with the support of the Colombian Army,” he continued.
After spending the night in the Liverpool team’s hotel prior to the game, Diaz withdrew from the team on Sunday morning. The Portugal international Jota disclosed after the match that Diaz was supposed to start in his place prior to learning of his parents’ predicament.
“Luis stayed at the motel with us before leaving to go home. It’s a really difficult circumstance, and I’m not sure how anyone would respond if it were you. He intended to play. In his place, I played and showed him his shirt to reassure him that we are rooting for him and hoping for the best.
“The idea that something like this could occur is unfathomable. We only need to provide him support and show him our solidarity.
When questioned about the incident prior to the game, Klopp, the manager of the Kop, stated: “We obviously had to make a late change because of the private situation involving Luis Diaz.” It was a difficult night, and we are all concerned about the current situation. I’ve never experienced that before. I never needed this novel experience.”
The incident was originally reported late on Saturday night. The national squad of Colombia issued a statement shortly after. The statement said: “The Colombian Football Federation expresses sympathy for the security situation our player Luis Diaz’s parents are facing. The FCF calls on the appropriate authorities to take prompt action to address the situation and offers its support to him and his entire family.”
“Liverpool Football Club can confirm it is aware of an ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz in Colombia,” the team said in a statement they released early on Sunday morning.
“We really hope that everything can be handled safely and as soon as possible. The player’s well-being will remain our top focus in the interim.”
President Gustavo Petro of Colombia duly declared that Cilenis Marulanda, Diaz’s mother, had recovered and was safe. After then, his mother was seen smiling broadly at an emotional get-together with family.
Following Liverpool’s victory, Klopp said it had been “impossible” to concentrate on the game.
The Liverpool manager questioned, “How can you make a football game really important on a day like this?” It’s quite challenging.
“I never had any difficulties with that; it was always a place where I felt comfortable and occasionally able to hide. It was evident that we needed to give the game more context, which we did, since it was impossible—completely impossible—to accomplish that.
“The boys were battling for Lucho, so I wasn’t entirely ready when they took off his shirt. It was amazing and extremely moving at the same time.
“We learned about it late last night. After Lucho and I spoke, he left for home. They want to be together since we sent people with him and some of his family is there.
“After that, we learned about the mother, which is wonderful, but not much has happened since.”