Luis Diaz's father kidnapped by criminal group: Colombian government

"Today we have officially learned that the kidnapping carried out on October 28, in Barrancas, department of La Guajira, of which Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda, father and mother of the soccer player Luis Fernando, were victims Diaz Marulanda, was perpetrated by a unit belonging to the ELN," said Otty Patino.

Diaz's mother has been rescued but dozens of soldiers, backed by police, are searching for his father. The Colombian army said in a statement that it had set up roadblocks and deployed two motorised platoons, unmanned aircraft, helicopters and a plane with radar in the search for Luis Manuel Diaz.

As a result, the Liverpool striker did not travel with his teammates on Wednesday for the Carabao Cup match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The search for his father continues and his inner circle are not giving up hope of finding him.

"Although Mrs. Marulanda was released a few hours later, the player's father has been kidnapped for five days. As a delegation of the National Government for peace talks with the ELN, we express all our solidarity with Luis Diaz, his family, with the entire country and with the millions of followers of the player in the world," the Colombian government representative added.

"We demand that the ELN (criminal group) immediately release Mr. Luis Manuel Diaz, and we remind him that it is his entire responsibility to guarantee his life and integrity. We remind the ELN that kidnapping is a criminal practice, violative of International Humanitarian Law, and that it is its duty in the development of the current peace process, not only to stop carrying it out, but also to eliminate it forever."