FIFA offers Luis Diaz “support and prayers” while his father is still kidnapped.
After his parents were abducted in Colombia, Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz received “support and prayers” from FIFA.
The athlete went back home to be with relatives, and the Colombian authorities intensified their search for his father when it was determined that Diaz’s mother had been saved.
“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,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino wrote on Instagram.
In a subsequent statement on X, then known as Twitter, the Colombian football federation (FCF) demanded that the people detaining Diaz’s father release him immediately and without any conditions.
“We demand the immediate, unconditional release of Luis Manuel Díaz, father of @LuisFDiaz19, from his captors,” the FCF stated. Peace is football. We’re with you, Lucho. Colombia is on your side.
After Liverpool defeated Nottingham Forest 3-0 at home on Sunday, manager Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool remarked that the game’s preparation had been “the most difficult I’ve ever had in my life.”
“I didn’t expect that, I wasn’t prepared for it,” Klopp continued.
“We definitely tried to help Luis with the fight we put in because obviously we want to help and we cannot really help,” the player said, not wanting to overly magnify the situation.
The boys did just that—fighting for him—because that is the only thing we can do.
Liverpool moved three points behind leaders Tottenham after winning their sixth straight Premier League game at home.
However, Klopp remarked, “On a day like today, how can you make a football game really important? It’s quite challenging. That has never been a problem for me in my life.
“We learned about it late last night. Luis wanted to go home when we chatted with him.After then, we learned about his mother, which is wonderful, and nothing much has happened.
“We are obviously the first to get involved, and we make an effort to learn as much as we can, but our main goal is to support; we don’t want to in any way bother the important people there.”
“Liverpool Football Club can confirm it is aware of an ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz in Colombia,” the statement from Liverpool read.
We sincerely hope that the situation can be handled securely and as soon as feasible. The player’s well-being will remain our top priority in the interim.
“In an operation in Barrancas, Luis Diaz’s mother has been rescued; we continue the search for the father,” stated Colombian President Gustavo Petro on X.
In January 2022, Liverpool acquired Diaz from Porto for an initial fee of £37.5 million, with the option for additional £12.5 million in add-ons.
With 11 games played so far this season, the 26-year-old winger has three goals.
After starting the Premier League victory over Everton the previous weekend, Diaz was not used as a substitute for Thursday’s 5-1 Europa League triumph over Toulouse. However, he was not included in the 18-man roster for Forest’s trip to Anfield.
