UEFA have announced that a minute of silence will take place before Portugal and Spain meet in the European Women’s Championship to honour Diogo Jota and his brother
UEFA have confirmed that a minute of silence will be observed ahead of Portugal’s match with Spain at the European Women’s Championship following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre.
It was reported on Thursday morning that Jota, 28, and his younger brother, 26, had passed away following a car accident in Zamora, Spain via local reports. The devastating news was later confirmed by Liverpool in an official statement.
The club wrote: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
“The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.
“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s Diogo Jota dead in crash LIVE: Star dies weeks after wedding as club breaks silenceREAD MORE: Diogo Jota dead: ‘Devastated’ Liverpool make statement following tragic death of star
“We will continue to provide them with our full support.”
Pedro Proenca, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, also shared a statement paying tribute to Jota. In said statement, he outlined that the Federation had made a request for a minute of silence to observed in the pair’s honour when Portugal play Spain on Thursday. This was later confirmed by Uefa, who outlined that the silence will be observed at all matches played across Thursday and Friday.
He said: “The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, this early morning, in Spain.
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.
“On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, they played their football.
“The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked Uefa for a minute’s silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women’s European Championship…
“The loss of Diogo and Andre represent irreplaceable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything, daily, to honour their legacy.”
Tributes from around the world have poured in for Jota, who joined Liverpool from Wolves back in 2020. His former Molineux team-mate, Ruben Neves, was among the first to send a message to his friend.
He said in a social media post: “They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you!”
