What happened to Luis Diaz’s dad?

LUIS DIAZ paid tribute to his kidnapped father after his late equaliser against Luton.

Heading home in the 95th minute, he lifted his shirt to reveal the words ‘Libertad Para Papa’, ‘Freedom for my father’.

Luis Diaz dedicated his late equaliser against Luton to his kidnapped fatherAP

What happened to Luis Diaz’s dad?

Luis Manuel Díaz Jimenez, 58, was taken hostage at gunpoint alongside his wife on Saturday, October 28 at a petrol station in Colombia.

The footballer’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued within hours by police – but Diaz‘s father is yet to be found.

The Colombian government have said that the group Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional, known as ELN, are responsible for the kidnapping.

A representative of the group confirmed that they will release Diaz’s father in the coming days.

Colombian authorities have offered a reward of $200,000,000 Peso (£40,600) for any information that leads to Luis Manuel Diaz‘s return.

The Liverpool star’s mum Cilenis Marulanda held back tears as she demanded her husband’s release.

Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with her his face and the message ‘your family is waiting for you’, she told reporters: “I want them to release him now.

“That the people who are keeping him free him now back to me, because we want to have him back home.”

What did Luis Diaz say in his official statement?

Following Luis Diaz’s late equaliser against Luton, he released the following statement on his father’s kidnapping, it read: “Here’s not the player speaking. Today’s Lucho Díaz, the son of Luís Manuel Díaz. Mane, my dad, hard working man, family pillar… he’s now kidnapped.

“I ask ELN to release my father as soon as possible. I also ask the international associations to work on that in order to guarantee his freedom.

“Every second, every minute we’re more worried. We’ve no words to describe our family’s terrible feelings, and it will be the same as long as he’s not back at home.

“I beg you to release my father right now, respecting his integrity.

“I want to thank to all Colombians and also the international community for your support.”