Argentina's Maradona, Soccer Teams Demand Santiago Maldonado's Return

Soccer players and teams in Argentina, including soccer legend Diego Maradona, demanded the return of young activist Santiago Maldonado, who disappeared during a military police raid on the Indigenous Pu Lof Mapuche community in the Chubut department of Cushamen on Aug. 1.

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Former soccer player Maradona urged Maldonado's return as well as of those who were forcibly disappeared during the military dictatorships in the South American country.

"One more day, Santiago Maldonado still hasn't appeared," Maradona posted on Facebook, adding, "All of us Argentines wait for you, just like all who are missing."

Human rights organizations accuse the government of Mauricio Macri of allowing the police to forcibly remove Maldonado, but the government denies any involvement.

"One more day and Santiago Maldonado still hasn't appeared. All of us Argentines wait for you, just like all who are missing."

Nahuel Guzman, the goalkeeper for the country's national team arrived from Mexico to Buenos Aires wearing a shirt with the slogan, "Where is Santiago?" which has become the general call to demand information on his whereabouts by his relatives and social organizations.

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The San Lorenzo team, of which Pope Francis is a fan, displayed a banner in which they asked Santiago Maldonado's return before a match against Racing.

A similar demand was made by soccer players from the Temperley team before a match against River.

The Washington based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, IACHR, has urged Argentina to take "the necessary measures to determine the situation and whereabouts" of Maldonado as well as to report on the investigation of the facts.

"We want him alive"

"Today, like always, I was in the court of #SanLorenzo and with the public, we asked ourselves: Where is #SantiagoMaldonado?"