Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s parents kidnapped: What we know so far

After Liverpool striker Diogo Jota netted the first goal during his team’s match against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Sunday, his primary focus was not the scoreline. 

Without hesitation, the Portuguese international hurriedly made his way to the bench and raised Luis Diaz’s No. 7 jersey as a symbol of solidarity. This heartfelt gesture was a powerful demonstration of support for his teammate, as Diaz’s parents had tragically been kidnapped in his home country Colombia on the eve of the game. 

The distressing incident unfolded at a gas station in the town of Barrancas, where Diaz’s parents were taken captive by armed individuals riding motorcycles. Prompt action was taken by the local police, who swiftly established roadblocks in the vicinity of the town, situated close to Colombia’s border with Venezuela.

Fortunately, Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued within hours. But his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, remains unaccounted for.

Diaz’s father had previously served as an amateur coach at a local football school. It was here that his son began to showcase his immense talent from a tender age, displaying great promise for a successful football career. 

Following her rescue, Diaz’s mother could not provide any specific details about her captors. 

According to multiple Colombian media outlets, specialized forces initiated a search operation on Modnay in the mountain range that stretches across both countries. The aim was to locate any trace of Luis Manuel Diaz.  

In conjunction with this effort, the police announced a reward of $48,000 for any information that could lead to his whereabouts. Authorities have not disregarded the possibility that Diaz’a father may have been smuggled into Venezuela, where the jurisdiction of Colombian police does not extend. 

As of now, no criminal organization has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. However, contact has been established with Venezuelan authorities, and additional troops are being deployed to enforce border security.  

As one of Colombia’s most prominent footballers, Diaz has been strongly advised against traveling to Colombia for his own safety. The Colombian Football Federation has issued a heartfelt plea to the kidnappers, urging them to release Luis Manuel Diaz unconditionally.  

Their official statement reads, “We implore the captors of Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Luis F. Diaz, to release him immediately. Football represents peace. Luis, we stand united with you. The entire nation of Colombia is with you.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed his support and offered prayers to Diaz. “On behalf of FIFA and the global football community, I would like to extend our support and prayers to Luis Diaz, his family and his friends in these difficult times,” he said late on Monday. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also addressed the incident, acknowledging it as a distressing situation and expressing his concern. He empathized with everyone involved and recognized the impact it had on the team and the wider community. 

“I didn’t expect that, I wasn’t prepared for it,” he said. “We are obviously not the first people that get informed but we try to get knowledge of everything, as much as we can, but we do not want to disturb in any way. We are not the important people there. We just want to support him, that’s it.”