SAD NEWS: Tragedy struck the UK today as a private plane cr@shed just minutes after takeoff, causing a huge explosion on impact. Among those on board was a man identified as an Arsenal player, whose condition remains unknown as emergency services race to the scene. The sky turned black, flames raged — and a cold silence fell over the runway…
Fans of varying allegiances laid flowers, football shirts and scarves in memory of Jota on a grass verge behind the Main Stand at Anfield. The Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish said: “Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.” Darwin Núñez, Dominic Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott were among the Liverpool players to post tributes. Elliott described the forward as “humble, hardworking, kind, and always there for anyone that needed anything”. The Liverpool squad are due to report back for pre-season training early next week and are scheduled to play their first friendly at Preston on Sunday 13 July.
Jota joined Liverpool for £41m in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club. A superb finisher, known as “Jota the slotter” by Liverpool fans, he won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool and the 2018 Championship title with Wolves. He was also a two-time winner of the Nations League with Portugal. His last game was the Nations League final penalty shootout victory over Spain on 8 June. Uefa’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, said: “Just three weeks ago, I had the honour of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the Uefa Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now for ever be burned in memory with sorrow.”
Jota, who scored 14 goals in 49 Portugal appearances, was an immensely popular figure in the Liverpool dressing room. “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” said a club statement that also requested “the privacy of Diogo and André’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”
Liverpool have opened a book of condolence that can be signed at Anfield until Sunday, along with a digital version. Flags at the stadium and at Liverpool town hall were lowered to half mast. The club’s stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday.
“We all feel utterly bereft right now,” said Michael Edwards, the chief executive of football at Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owner, and Richard Hughes, the club’s sporting director, in a statement. “As his teammates, friends and colleagues, we are consumed by shock and sorrow. We know our supporters, his national team, former clubs and teammates and the wider football community share in this grief. This is a tragedy that transcends Liverpool Football Club.
“In the coming days, we as a club will look to honour our beloved No 20 with the respect and affection he so richly deserves. We will strive to make these tributes meaningful and inclusive of our supporters, to whom Diogo meant so much. For now, we express a love that is filled with deep sorrow and pain. We have lost someone truly irreplaceable. Rest in peace, Diogo. YNWA.”
Jota and his partner were married in Porto on 22 June and announced the news in an Instagram post a few days ago. On Monday Rute shared more pictures from their wedding day and wrote: “My dream came true.” Jota commented: “I’m the lucky one.” They had met in high school and started going out in 2013, a year before he turned professional. The couple have three young children: Denis, Duarte and a daughter born last year whose name has not been revealed.
The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and his Portuguese counterpart, Luís Montenegro, expressed sympathy for Jota, Silva and their families. Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, paid her respects at Anfield while on government business in Liverpool.
Portugal’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said: “Diogo Jota represented Portuguese football at the highest level and demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication as part of a generation that has taken Portuguese football to the highest level. The president sends his deepest condolences to his family, friends and professional colleagues for a loss that has dismayed all Portuguese.”
Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese FA, wrote on social media: “We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day.”
