Luis Díaz made a unprecedented return for Liverpool as he scored a Ninety fifth-minute equaliser as his group drew 1-1 with Luton City within the Premier League on Sunday whereas awaiting the promised launch of his kidnapped father by Colombia’s Nationwide Liberation Military (ELN) guerrillas.
After scoring his late purpose, Díaz lifted his Liverpool shirt to disclose a message beneath that stated: “LIBERTAD PARA PAPA“ (Freedom for dad).
The Colombia worldwide had missed Liverpool’s previous two matches after his mom, Cilenis Marulanda, and father, Luis Manuel Díaz, have been seized by armed males in northern Colombia. His mom was freed inside hours, and the ELN guerrillas stated on Thursday that they might free his father.
The 26-year-old was introduced on by supervisor Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool looked for a approach again into the sport towards Premier League strugglers Luton, who had gone forward shortly earlier than Díaz’s introduction because of a purpose from Tahith Chong.
Nevertheless, simply because it appeared as if Liverpool would come away with nothing from a match that they’d dominated for probably the most half, Díaz leaped highest on the again publish to satisfy Harvey Elliott‘s cross to go the ball past Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.
“A beautiful second, but it surely does not change the state of affairs. Most essential factor is that his father will get launched,” Klopp stated after the sport. “It’s fantastic he needed to be right here. For us a brilliant essential purpose and for him crucial and emotional, however that is it.
“We knew he could be a risk. We did not know the way lengthy he would play as a result of he solely had just a few periods with the group. However that isn’t a very powerful half immediately. He scored the purpose however we have to see some enchancment in Colombia.”
Díaz launched an announcement in help of his father on social media after the match.
“Immediately the footballer is just not chatting with you. Immediately Lucho Díaz, the son of Luis Manuel Díaz, is chatting with you,” Díaz stated in a publish on Instagram. “Mane, my dad, is a tireless employee, a pillar within the household and he has been kidnapped. I ask the ELN for the immediate launch of my father, and I ask worldwide organizations to work collectively for his freedom.”
“Each second, each minute, our anguish grows. My mom, my brothers and I are determined, distressed and with out phrases to explain what we’re feeling. This struggling will solely finish when we’ve got him again residence. I encourage you to launch him instantly, respecting his integrity and ending this painful wait as quickly as potential.”
Colombia’s authorities stated Thursday that the ELN was answerable for the weekend kidnapping of the ahead’s father.
Díaz’s father shall be launched “as quickly as potential,” ELN consultant Juan Carlos Cuellar advised a neighborhood assembly in a video clip shared by the group with Reuters.
“It says rather a lot about his character, about his interior power,” Diaz’s teammate Alisson stated after the match. “Not lots of people can think about what he’s going via. Soccer can deliver pleasure in darkish moments.”
The peace delegation of the Colombian authorities, which is in negotiations with ELN, stated in an announcement earlier Thursday that it was “formally conscious” that the kidnapping had been “perpetrated by a unit that belongs to ELN.”
“We demand that the ELN releases instantly Mr. Luis Manuel Díaz and we are saying as of now that they’re completely accountable to safe his life and integrity,” stated Otty Patiño, who leads the peace delegation.