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Liverpool football club have shared their delight over the news that Luis Diaz’s father has been finally freed by kidnappers, almost two weeks after he was captured.
The news broke that Luis Manuel Diaz had been taken into the hands of a ‘Humanitarian Commission’ made up of the Catholic Church & the UN’ on Thursday.
The 58-year-old was taken along with the forward’s mother when they stopped for watermelons at a petrol station on Saturday, October 28.
However, it’s now been revealed that Diaz’s father has been rescued and taken to a nearby city for medical checks, with family already on their way to see him.
Liverpool football club have shared their delight over the news that the father of Luis Diaz has been finally freed by kidnappers – almost two weeks after he was captured
The news broke that Luis Manuel Diaz (right) had been taken into the hands of a ‘Humanitarian Commission’ made up of the Catholic Church & the UN on Thursday
Liverpool Football Club shared their delight on social media and praised those involved for his ‘safe return’.
They shared the following statement: ‘We are delighted by the news of Luis Diaz’s father’s safe return and we thank all those involved in securing his release.’
Meanwhile, a statement from the Colombia FA read: ‘The Colombian Football Federation thanks the National Government, the Military Forces and the National Police, as well as all the institutions and officials that made the release of Luís Manuel Díaz, father of our player Luís Díaz, possible.
‘Football as a sporting discipline symbolizes talent, dedication, teamwork and the intrinsic values of human beings. In Colombia it must continue to be a benchmark for entertainment, healthy competition, unity and joy.
‘Therefore, we insist on the need to maintain this activity, as well as those who are involved in it, in the sporting and administrative part and their families, outside of any scenario other than sports.’
The statement continued: ‘Behind a ball, the dreams and illusions of boys and girls, young people, women, men and adult soccer players, their loved ones and an entire country roll. Football is passion in peace. Let no one ever think of attacking that reality again!’
Diaz Snr received medical care on the mountainside after a helicopter set off to rescue him
Earlier on in the afternoon, Colombian media reported that the process ‘of liberating Diaz’s father has begun’.
They added that a helicopter had taken off from the city of Valledupar to a meeting place where ELN operatives would stage the handover.
Radar showed the helicopter circling close to the Venezuelan border in the Perija Mountain Range, where the handover is thought to have taken place.
Images following the handover showed Diaz Sr in a khaki-coloured coat, Hugo Boss t-shirt and Chicago Bulls cap, flanked by two men who appeared to be priests.
He was then seen sat on the ground having a blood pressure check by a female official, close to what appeared to be a mountainside walking path.
Family are expected to be reunited with Diaz Sr in Valledupar.
Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, greeted the news with a message on social media platform X, in which he wrote: ‘Long live freedom and peace.’
