Liverpool forward, Luiz Diaz faced a personal crisis after his parent were kidnapped in an incident that has shocked fans and authorities in the South American country.
It was gathered that the his parents were reportedly abducted in the city of Barrancas, situated in the northern department of La Guajira, Colombia.
Cilenis Marulanda, Diaz’s mother, was later rescued by the police. The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, confirmed her rescue.
However, Diaz’s father remains missing, prompting an intensive search by the country’s police.
The details of the abduction indicate that the parents were taken while driving to their home. Armed assailants on motorbikes intercepted their vehicle and subsequently drove them away from the scene.
Colombia’s soccer federation expressed its regret over the incident and called on the authorities to do everything in their power to rescue Diaz’s father.
Luis Diaz, the 26-year-old Liverpool forward, has not yet made a public statement regarding the incident. The news of his parents’ kidnapping has understandably raised concerns and sympathy from fans and fellow athletes around the world.
The incident is a stark reminder of the security challenges faced by individuals and families in certain regions of Colombia. Diaz’s family remains in the thoughts of many as the search for his father continues.