After Luton’s goal, Luis Diaz dedicated his heartfelt stoppage-time equaliser to his father and all the other kidnapped individuals back home.
After his mother was saved by the police last weekend, the forward made his Premier League comeback for the first time since losing both of his parents.
In the 95th minute, Diaz entered the game off the bench and salvaged a point for the Reds by heading home a late cross from Harvey Elliott to tie the score.
After scoring the goal, he showed off a message for his missing father Luis Manuel Diaz underneath his jersey. It said, “LIBERTAD PARA PAPA,” which translates to “FREEDOM FOR DAD” in English.
After the game, Diaz sent a message to the kidnappers on Instagram, requesting his father’s “prompt release.”
Today the player is not talking to you about football, today Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz, is talking to you. He is my dad, he is a tireless worker, our pillar in the family and he is kidnapped.
I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and I ask international organisations to intercede for his freedom.
Every second, every minute our anguish grows; my mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and without words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering will only end when we have him back home.
I beg you to release him immediately, respecting his integrity and ending this painful wait as soon as possible.
In the name of love and compassion, we ask that you reconsider his actions and allow us to recover him.
I thank Colombians and the international community for the support received, thank you for so many demonstrations of love and solidarity in this difficult time that many families in my country find themselves living.
The manager went on to say that while he had heard “optimistic” developments regarding the current talks to free Luis Manuel Diaz, the process was still underway.
In the days ahead, we hope to learn of more encouraging developments, and our sympathies are naturally with Diaz’s family during this incredibly upsetting time.
