On Saturday, the father of Liverpool player Luis Diaz was kidnapped. Search efforts are now underway in a mountain range along the border between Colombia and Venezuela. Air and land patrols, as well as members of the country’s special forces, are involved in the search. The police have also offered a reward of $48,000 (£39,000) for any information.
Colombian police are looking for the father of Liverpool forward Luis Diaz. He was kidnapped in the northern part of the country.
Luis Manuel Diaz and his wife were kidnapped by armed men on motorcycles at a petrol station in the small town of Barrancas.
The forward’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued quickly by the police after they put up roadblocks around the town near Colombia’s border with Venezuela. However, his father is still missing.
Air and land patrols, along with special forces members, are searching a mountain range that spans two countries and is covered with cloud forest.
Police have offered a reward of $48,000 (£39,000) for any information that can help save Diaz’s father.
Officials have not ruled out the possibility that he may have been taken secretly to Venezuela, where Colombian police cannot reach him.
In a post on social media, the Director General of Colombian Police, William Salamanca, visited the operation to “recognize our commandos for their bravery and commitment to safely rescue him.”
On Monday, Salamanca advised being careful about reports that Luis Manuel might have been taken to Venezuela. He mentioned the challenge of crossing the Perija mountains.
Both FIFA and the Colombian Football Federation have supported Diaz, who is 26 years old. Liverpool has allowed the player to return home.
Speaking after Sunday’s 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said preparation for the game was “the most difficult I’ve ever had in my life”.
Klopp added: “I didn’t expect that, I wasn’t prepared for it. I don’t want to make the game bigger than it was, but definitely, we tried to help Luis with the fight we put in because obviously we want to help and we cannot really help.
“So the only thing we can do is fight for him and that’s what the boys did.”
Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders said the whole club is supporting Diaz as he waits for news.
The Colombia winger is taking time off after his parents were taken in his homeland.
“We try to support him now as much as we can – lot of things out of our hands,” said Lijnders.
“I think and I feel that it’s only for Liverpool Football Club that the players know we’re doing the right thing. It’s not for me to say what we’re doing for Luis Diaz.
“As long as he knows that we’re doing all the right things and we pray. The whole club is behind him. He has that feeling then, for me, it’s right.
“The authorities are doing everything. Everything we hear is that they’re trying everything, that’s the most important thing that his family are OK.”
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