Former international Juan Camilo Zuniga has called for Colombia stars to stop playing until the father of Liverpool forward Luis Diaz is found
A former Colombia international has called on his “colleagues” to stop playing football until Liverpool winger Luis Diaz’s father is found.
On Saturday, Diaz’s parents were the victims of a kidnapping in La Guajira after their van was ambushed by four armed men, according to multiple reports in Colombia. Cilenis Marulanda, the Liverpool forward’s mother, has been found and is safe but the search for his father Luis Manuel Diaz continues.
The Reds let the 26-year-old know he was in their thoughts during the club’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. After scoring the opening goal at Anfield, Diogo Jota held a ‘Diaz 7’ shirt aloft to the crowd.
Prominent figures from the footballing world also showed their support of Diaz throughout the weekend. However, former Napoli and Colombia defender Juan Camilo Zuniga has issued a more forceful message to his fellow footballers on social media.
“Today it was Luis Díaz’s turn. Tomorrow, God forbid, he may touch one of us,” Zuniga wrote on Instagram, as reported by El Pais. “I invite all my colleagues, so that we have more solidarity with Lucho. Players, there is no brain to play with a situation like this. If we have to not play until Lucho’s dad shows up, let’s do it guys, please.”
Former Real Madrid and Everton star James Rodriguez also pleaded for Diaz’s father to be released. Diaz’s Colombia team-mate Rodriguez shared a picture of the Liverpool forward with his father and wrote a heartfelt plea.
“We ask the captors of Luis Manuel Díaz, father of Luis Díaz, to release him now, without conditions. Football is peace. Lucho we are with you, Colombia is with you,” Rodriguez said.
“There are things much more important than a football match , please, what society are we living in?” We are with you Luchito.”
A reward of around £40,000 has been put up for anyone with further information into the kidnapping of Mr Diaz.
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