Liverpool's Luis Diaz has pleaded with the kidnappers of his father to release him immediately, hours after he scored for Liverpool in the 1-1 draw with Luton Town on Sunday evening.
Diaz was named in Liverpool's matchday squad for the first time since his parents were taken in his homeland of Colombia last weekend.
Government officials confirmed that they were taken by a left-wing guerrilla group considered terrorists by the US and European Union.
Diaz's mother was freed on the same night that the pair were snatched off the streets of their hometown in the La Guajira region in Colombia by four armed men on motorcycles, but the search for his father continues.
After Diaz scored for Liverpool, he revealed a t-shirt with the message which read in Spanish "Libertad para papá," which translates to "Freedom for dad" in English.
Diaz posted another message on his own social media, further asking for the release of his father Mane.
It read: “Today the footballer is not speaking to you. Today Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz, is speaking to you.
“Mane, my dad, is a tireless worker, a pillar in the family, and he has been kidnapped.
“I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and I ask international organisations to work together 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," said in the first part of the statement.
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“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 your 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 affection and solidarity in this difficult time that many families in my country find themselves living.”
Alisson Becker, Liverpool's goalkeeper, also paid tribute to his teammate and admitted that the team was fully behind him as the search continues.
“It says a lot about his character, about his inner strength,” Alisson said of Diaz. “Not many people can imagine what he is going through now, even as we are close to him, of course, we are supporting him.
“We feel his pain, but for him, it’s a different level. Football sometimes, in dark moments, can bring joy to people, can bring joy to somebody who is struggling. And I think football is bringing a slice of joy to Lucho at this time.
“We are together with him for whatever he needs, to take his time. He came, trained, came to the game, scored a fantastic goal for us that was really important. We are with him 100 percent.”
Liverpool's next game will be against Brentford next Sunday.
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