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Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Diogo Jota car crash: Funeral of Liverpool star to be held on July 5
The funeral of Portuguese and Liverpool ace Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car crash in Spain, will be held on Saturday, July 5, media reports have said. According to ESPN, the funeral will take place at 10am (1pm UAE time) in his home town of Gondomar, east of Porto, Portugal. The funeral of his brother, who too was in the car, will be held along with Jota. The funeral service will be held at the Matriz de Gondomar church, ESPN said. A wake will take place from 4pm (7pm UAE time) on Friday. Earlier, the mortal remains of Jota and Andre Silva had arrived in Gondomar in the early hours of Friday morning. The football world was left in shock following the tragedy and stars and clubs mourned the passing of the 28-year-old. The Official Liverpool Supporters Club Dubai (OLSC Dubai) also paid tribute to the striker, who helped the Anfield club win a record-equalling 20th English Premier League crown.
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Owen Farrell answer dad's call and can Waratahs test British & Irish Lions?
The British & Irish Lions are just over two weeks out from their Test opener against Australia. They have shaken off the disappointment of defeat to Argentina in Dublin with two breezy wins since arriving in Australia. Not everything has run smoothly, though, particularly with two tour-ending injuries leading to some intriguing subplots to the series. Farrell fated It always felt destined, even if Andy Farrell tried his best not to go there. His son, Owen, has built up such a fine body of work during his glittering career that he would have been well within his rights to hope for selection for a fourth Lions tour. There was mitigation. He had a poor spell playing club rugby in France. He had suffered injuries and concussion. All of which meant his absence from the initial squad was understandable. It has taken a broken forearm for Elliot Daly for it to happen, but Farrell Jr is set to be a Lion again. The originals in the squad have had a head start of three matches in staking a claim for a Test starting place. Farrell will be playing catch up, but he can be assured of one thing: no one will have a better grasp of his qualities than his dad. Itoje revived Owen Farrell is only 33, but he might feel like an old stager walking back into the Lions team room. He has been retired from international rugby for a couple of years, and the game in Europe has marched on without him. Dan Sheehan, who captained the Lions in their first game on tour, is 26. Joe McCarthy, the standout player in that game against Western Force, is 24. And Henry Pollock, the much-talked-about back-rower, is only 20. But there will be many who are glad to see a familiar face. Maro Itoje, for one, will be happy about the idea of getting the old band back together with his long-time Saracens and England colleague. The tour captain looked revived himself in the win over the Queensland Reds. He is under pressure to show his worth given the excellence of the others pushing for a place in the second row. Itoje did so with a try, 10 carries and 18 tackles in what ended up a sound win. Welsh influence All the great Lions touring sides have had a strong Welsh backbone. To pick one famous example, the lone series win over New Zealand, back in 1971, involved such legendary names as Gareth Edwards, Barry John, JPR Williams, and Gerald Davies. Even in more modern times, the likes of Sam Warburton, Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies have been central to touring triumphs. The stock of tourists from Wales this time is historically low, and one fewer after the unfortunate injury suffered by Tomos Williams in the first match on tour. But a Welshman might still have an influence in Australia. Jac Morgan was excellent in the win over the Reds and nosed ahead in the traffic for a back-row starting berth. Flying Freeman From the fringe of the scrum to the fringe of the field, the selections are not yet cut and dried for the tourists. Andy Farrell namechecked Mack Hansen after the win in Perth. Despite the fact the Ireland wing actually had a mixed time against the Force, his coach said his work rate was something all Lions should aspire to. It makes sense that Farrell would have faith in the players he knows so well from his day job with Ireland, making Hansen and James Lowe favourites to start on the wings in the Test side. But Tommy Freeman scored two tries against the Reds so will certainly be pushing for consideration for the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. Testing opposition Upon arrival in Australia, the Lions management made a point of demanding testing warm up matches. Ben Calveley, the Lions chief executive, pointed out the small print of the tour conditions that Test players be released for tour matches. Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies coach, countered that the conditions are subjective. Either way, the two tour matches have been heavily one-sided so far. The tourists scored eight tries in each of the games against the Force and the Reds, without looking perfectly synced themselves. Whether that shows underpowered opposition, or points to lower standards overall in Australian rugby union at present, will only be shown once the Test series starts. Saturday's opponents, the NSW Waratahs, could provide more of the same. They finished eighth in the Super Rugby season, which is just one better than the Force.
The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Diogo Jota: Arne Slot and Jurgen Klopp lead Liverpool tributes to 'a player we loved dearly'
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and captain Virgil van Dijk led the club's tributes to Diogo Jota after their teammate died in a car crash in Spain along with his younger brother. Spanish Guardia Civil confirmed the deaths of Portugal striker Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, after the car they were driving veered off the road near the town of Zamora, north-western Spain, and burst into flames. Jota contributed six goals as Liverpool clinched a record-equaling 20th English title in 2024/25, Slot's first season in charge at Anfield. The Dutchman said everyone at the club was in 'absolute shock' at the news of Jota's death. 'What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words, but I know I do not,' Slot wrote in a personal statement published on the club's website. 'All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about. 'For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special. 'We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.' According to reports, Jota was returning to England for pre-season training next week via ferry after being advised not to fly following minor surgery. He had only recently married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Porto. The couple had three children. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said on Instagram he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief.' The Dutch defender wrote in a post alongside a picture of Jota with the Premier League trophy: 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man. 'You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. 'My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids. I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family. 'A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. 'We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it! Rest in perfect peace Diogo & Andre.' Liverpool Football Club have opened physical and digital books of condolence for supporters to pay tribute to Jota, who joined the club in 2020 from Wolves for €44.7 million. Fans flocked to Anfield on Thursday to lay scarves, wreaths and other tributes to a player who scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup during his five-year stay on Merseyside. Flags have been lowered to half-mast at Anfield, the club said on its website. All club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday July 7 and staff have been offered wellbeing support, should they need it, a statement read. Mourners are set to gather to honour Jota at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, a local parish priest has said. Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that a wake for the brothers will take place at 8am at the nearby Capela da Ressurreicao before their funeral at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted he is struggling to comprehend Jota's death. Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: 'This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!' The German coach, who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020, added: 'I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. 'Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father.' Liverpool have been marred by tragedy since clinching last season's Premier League trophy. Seventy-nine people were injured on May 26 when a car ploughed into a packed crowd celebrating Liverpool's title triumph during a victory parade. Merseyside Police arrested Paul Doyle, a 53-year-old former Royal Marine, over the incident. He appeared in court on May 30 facing seven charges including wounding and causing grievous bodily harm. May 29 marked the 40-year anniversary of the Heysal Disaster, where 39 people died before the European Cup final in Brussels between Liverpool and Italian club Juventus.
