Milans striker's sister kidnapped in Brazil

The sister of striker Ricardo Oliveira of Inter Milan was kidnapped on Wednesday morning in Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city.

Maria de Lourdes Silva de Oliveira, 35, is the Brazilian player's elder sister.

Two men wearing masks broke into her house in the Casa Verde neighborhood, in the north of the city, and took her with them at around 5:30 a.m. local time. Her husband and 8-year-old son were gagged and tied up, and then locked in one of the houses rooms.

According to the local police, the kidnappers also took a phone book, but they have not made any contact yet.

The police suspect that the striker's 14-year-old nephew, Maria de Lourde's elder son, is involved in the kidnapping.

The boy has crime records for drug trafficking and has gone through internships at the State Foundation for the Well-being of the Underage (FEBEM), a correctional center for minors that commit crimes in Sao Paulo state.

Ricardo Oliveira was playing for Spain's Real Betis Balompie when Milan hired the striker in August 2006. Oliveira was in Seville, Spain, when he was informed of his sisters kidnapping.

Several other Brazilian players have had relatives kidnapped, especially those who play for teams abroad. Spanish team Real Madrid's striker Robinhos mother was kidnapped in 2004 in the player's hometown, Santos, also in Sao Paulo state.

Source: Xinhua