ELN releases father of English Premier League footballer in Colombia

MEXICO CITY

Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Colombian footballer Luis Diaz, who plays for the English Premier League club Liverpool, was released Thursday after 12 days in captivity by the armed rebel group, National Liberation Army (ELN).

The guerrilla group handed Diaz over to a humanitarian delegation consisting of the Ombudsman Office, the UN, Catholic Church and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

A helicopter left early Thursday from Valledupar to receive Diaz, who was picked up in the department of La Guajira in northeast Colombia, where he was kidnapped Oct. 28 along with his wife. She was released days later.

The Episcopal Conference of Colombia announced on X that Diaz was with two delegates from the Catholic Church, who reported that he was safe.

"We thank God for the release of Mr. Luis Diaz! Francisco Ceballos, bishop of Riohacha, and Bishop Hector Henao delegate for Church-State relations, who formed the humanitarian commission in charge of facilitating his release, are already with him," it said.

Diaz's kidnapping was carried out by a faction of the ELN.

ELN higher-ups reportedly acknowledged the kidnapping was a mistake, resulting in his release.

Diaz's release was delayed by the presence of the military in the area, which is why the government ordered the withdrawal of 300 troops Nov. 6 to facilitate his liberation.

"Long live freedom and peace," President Gustavo Petro wrote on X.