LIZARAZU RECEIVES ETA THREAT
Lizarazu received the letter at his parent's home and was told he would he and his properties would be at risk if he did not pay up.
The 31-year-old Bayern Munich defender, who was born in Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the Basque coast of France, has been put under protection.
ETA's statement read: "You have been well paid to wear the shirt of an oppressor with money stolen from the Basque people and Basque region.
"Given these enemy payments, ETA is writing to you because it has big economic needs to continue its fight.
"A non-response on your behalf could lead to a response against you and your belongings."
The news will be especially disappointing for Lizarazu as he is close to the region, having played for a Basque representative side in the past - as well as Athletic Bilbao in the 1996/97 season.
This is the latest bad news for Lizarazu, whose season thus far has been disrupted due to back and calf injuries.
The Basque region consists of the Southern West tip of France and the North of Spain from Bilbao to the Pyrenees.
The area is particularly strong football-wise boasting four of the 23 teams in the Primera Liga - including Real Sociedad, Alaves, Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao.
Indeed, Athletic to this day only field Basque players although they have employed a host of foreign coaches including Howard Kendall, Guus Hiddink, and most successfully Luis Fernandez - who guided them to a Champions League spot in 1998 - before leaving at the end of last season.
