BRASILIA, Aug 4 (SW) - Since November 2004 there have been six Brazilian football mothers who have been kidnapped and then released.

The sixth and latest mother to have been kidnapped and then released was Noemia de Carvalho Correa, mother of Santos defender Kleber. This happened on Wednesday. She was freed by the police in Sao Paulo two hours after her ordeal had begun.

The police in Sao Paulo freed Noemia when they became suspicious of two men in a car. A car short chase ensued. The men fled leaving the mother in the car where she had been tied up.

As yet no arrests have been made.

The first mother to have been kidnapped was the mother of Real Madrid’s striker Robinho, who was in those days a Santos player.

Since then, Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano, former Sporting Lisbon defender Rogerio, Le Mans striker Grafite and Corinthians defender Marinho also had their mothers kidnapped and released.

The 26-year-old Kleber previously played for Swiss club FC Basel and Germany's Hannover.

He played for the Brazilian national team, and helped Corinthians win national titles in 1998 and 1999. He has scored a goal in 53 matches since signing with Santos.