Diogo Jota graveyard quickly shut and police called as fans take selfies
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre were laid to rest in a joint funeral service on Saturday, two days after their fatal car crash
Police monitor the crowd close to the burial site of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre
(Image: Phil Harris )
The public was barred from entering the graveyard after Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva on Saturday morning were buried this morning. The siblings were laid to rest at a church in Gondomar, close to Porto, Portugal, after their fatal car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A host of famous faces from the football world attended the poignant ceremony at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar Catholic church. Among those present were Jota's Liverpool team-mates, such as Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, as well as numerous Portuguese international players.
The burial came after a private wake on Friday, which Jota's wife Rute Cardoso, whom he wed last month, attended alongside the rest of his family. Despite the deeply emotional funeral, it was conducted with respect, until issues emerged later on.
Following the burial for Jota and his brother Andre, the cemetery was initially reopened to the public. However, it had to be closed again shortly after due to "disrespectful" individuals who started taking selfies with the graves.
Scores of football supporters lined the streets of Gondomar to observe the funeral from a distance. While most behaved respectfully, the reopening of the graveyard led to disturbances that required police intervention, reports the Mirror.
Police were in attendance at the burial site
(Image: Daily Mirror )
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The football community is mourning after Jota and his brother died when their Lamborghini veered off the road in north-west Spain and burst into flames on Thursday morning. The funeral, marked by profound sorrow, saw an overwhelming outpouring of grief from the world of football.
Jota's Wolves and Portugal team-mate, Ruben Neves, made a heartfelt journey from the United States, where he had been competing in the Club World Cup just hours before, to help carry his close friend's casket. Sign up to the Don't Take Me Home newsletter here .
Bishop of Porto Dom Manuel Linda led the emotional service. Addressing Jota's three children, who were not present, the Bishop offered a poignant message, where he explained why so many people had attended the hour-long ceremony.
Ruben Neves helps carry the coffin
(Image: Getty Images )
Through a trembling voice, he promised to pray "a lot" for them and said to those gathered, including Jota's wife Rute, "If it is difficult to see an adult cry, it is even more difficult to see a child cry".
He continued: "The ones who suffer a lot are your mother and your grandparents. Seeing the mortal remains of a child must be a greater torment, but when there are two urns there are no words."
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Manchester City's Bernardo Silva was among those attending the service and said: "I can't even imagine the pain felt by the family, by Rute, by the children, by the parents. For André and Jota. I must say a little about Jota, who was a great friend to all of us.
"His career, although not the most important, speaks for itself. He didn't train at any of the big clubs and took the most difficult paths. His passion, will and determination allowed him to succeed in life and have a brilliant career.
"More important than that, as a person... the memories that remain... Jota will always be in our hearts. He will always be present at every breakfast, lunch, dinner, national team gathering, PlayStation or card game."
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