Portuguese players pay tribute to Diogo Jota during Wimbledon match
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in Spain on Thursday while travelling to catch a ferry to the UK ahead of pre-season.
Cabral said he was driving to Wimbledon when he heard the news, describing the footballer as 'an idol, such an icon, such a good person' in Portugal.
Francisco Cabral wore a black ribbon on his sleeve (Mike Egerton/PA)
After his defeat in the men's doubles alongside Lucas Miedler, he added: 'Yesterday the idea of wearing a black strap came up – that was not allowed.
'I asked for permission to use the black ribbon and they let me play with it.
'It was an honour – it was not for the best reason.
'He was an inspiration not only for me but for the country in general.'
Francisco Cabral of Portugal, wearing a black ribbon in memory of compatriot Diogo Jota (Mike Egerton/PA)
Liverpool fan and British doubles player Neal Skupski had also brought a black armband for his match on Thursday but opted not to wear it.
The 35-year-old then found out about the death of his grandmother shortly after coming off court of his first-round win alongside fellow Briton Joe Salisbury.
Skupski suggested he may wear one later in the tournament, saying: 'Maybe in the next couple of days.'
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South Wales Argus
20 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Diogo Jota's wife and family joined by Liverpool players for funeral
The father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, after a Lamborghini they were travelling in burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout in the early hours of Thursday morning. The coffins of Jota and Silva were carried into Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church in the town of Gondomar near Porto on Saturday morning, followed by mourners. A church bell tolled and crowds applauded as the brothers' coffins were carried into the church, followed by mourners, some with their arms around each other. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson (PA) Others seen arriving at the church included Reds manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil Van Dijk and team-mates including Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez. Also at the funeral for the Portuguese international were his national team-mates Bruno Fernandes, of Manchester United; Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, of Manchester City; Joao Felix and Renato Veiga, of Chelsea; Nelson Semedo, from Wolves; Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and Ruben Neves, as well as former Liverpool player Fabinho, Porto FC president Andre Villas-Boas and Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez. Some of the players carried wreaths shaped like football shirts as they arrived at the church. The coffins of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva were brought into the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar (PA) Family and friends gathered for the brothers' wake on Friday, with a queue forming outside the Portuguese chapel. The brothers' parents attended the Sao Cosme Chapel, the Capela da Ressurreicao, in Gondomar, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Jota's agent also there. Manchester City and Portugal player Ruben Dias also attended (PA) People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, the largest one showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool FC shirt and making a heart sign with his hands. Liverpool FC postponed the return of their players for pre-season following Jota's death and players past and present paid tribute to him and his brother on social media. Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez arrives at the funeral (PA) A sea of floral tributes had been left outside Anfield, with many Liverpool fans and supporters of other clubs looking to pay their respects. Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support. Jota and Silva were found dead after the car crashed on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Liverpool's Joe Gomez and Arne Slot arrive at the funeral (PA) Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed 'a possible speeding incident' was being looked at. Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle. No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident.
BreakingNews.ie
25 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Diogo Jota's wife and family joined by Liverpool players for funeral
Diogo Jota's wife and family have been joined by Liverpool players for the funeral of the footballer and his brother in Portugal, following their death in a car crash in Spain. The father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, after a Lamborghini they were travelling in burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout in the early hours of Thursday morning. Advertisement Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson (PA) The coffins of Jota and Silva were carried into Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church in the town of Gondomar near Porto on Saturday morning, followed by mourners. A church bell tolled and crowds applauded as the brothers' coffins were carried into the church, followed by mourners, some with their arms around each other. Others seen arriving at the church included Reds manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil Van Dijk and team-mates including Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez. The coffins of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva were brought into the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar (PA) Also at the funeral for the Portuguese international were his national team-mates Bruno Fernandes, of Manchester United; Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, of Manchester City; Joao Felix and Renato Veiga, of Chelsea; Nelson Semedo, from Wolves; Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and Ruben Neves, as well as former Liverpool player Fabinho, Porto FC president Andre Villas-Boas and Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez. Advertisement Some of the players carried wreaths shaped like football shirts as they arrived at the church. Family and friends gathered for the brothers' wake on Friday, with a queue forming outside the Portuguese chapel. Manchester City and Portugal player Ruben Dias also attended (PA) The brothers' parents attended the Sao Cosme Chapel, the Capela da Ressurreicao, in Gondomar, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Jota's agent also there. People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, the largest one showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool FC shirt and making a heart sign with his hands. Advertisement Liverpool FC postponed the return of their players for pre-season following Jota's death and players past and present paid tribute to him and his brother on social media. Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez arrives at the funeral (PA) A sea of floral tributes had been left outside Anfield, with many Liverpool fans and supporters of other clubs looking to pay their respects. Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support. Jota and Silva were found dead after the car crashed on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Advertisement Liverpool's Joe Gomez and Arne Slot arrive at the funeral (PA) Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed 'a possible speeding incident' was being looked at. Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle. No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident.
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Tears flow as family and football stars gada to lay Diogo Jota and im broda to rest
Family and close friends don arrive for church for di funeral ceremony of Diogo Jota and im broda Andre Silva wey die for car accident wey happun for Spain on Thursday. Dem walk into di church, wit dia heads down. Complete silence dey inside di church hall, nah only di bell dey make sound. Many pipo dey cry and wipe dia tears away. One signpost wey dem hang for up dey show: "Para sempre um de nós." (Forever one of us). As di bell stop ringing, may fans clap inside di church hall. Dem start di funeral at 10am on Saturday morning, wit di Lord's Prayer, wey pipo dey hear outside di Catholic church hall for Igreja Matriz de Gondomar for Sao Cosme. Liverpool players, staff, fans and odas don arrive for Portugal to pay dia respects at Diogo Jota funeral. Join Pidgin WhatsApp Channel to read more tori on Diogo Jota and oda ogbonge footballers. Members of di brodas family dey carry dia caskets into di church while Jota Liverpool teammates, Virgil van Dijk carry wreaths into di church. Diogo Jota marry im long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days bifor di accident, as im and im broda dey travel inside Lamborghini in di early hours of Thursday morning. Football players from Liverpool, Portugal national team and oda teams members of Diogo Jota and André Silva walk into di church for Godomar to pay dia respect. Di scene dey really sad, and all di players wey arrive dis morning dey move by dia emotions as dem dey wipe dia tears for di church hall. Refresh your browser for more updates as we dey bring dem.
