Relatives comfort Diogo Jota's grieving wife at funeral chapel after mourning fans greet hearse with sombre applause
TRAGIC Diogo Jota's grieving wife was consoled by relatives amid emotional scenes at his funeral chapel today.
Rute Cardoso - who married the Liverpool ace just 11 days earlier - arrived at Sao Cosme Chapel in his home town of Gondomar near Porto, northern Portugal, early this morning.
4
Liverpool and Portugal ace Diogo was travelling with his brother in Spain when tragedy struck
Credit: Reuters
4
A woman hands over a crown of flowers to police officers in Gondomar, Portugal
Credit: Reuters
4
A view shows the Chapel of the Resurrection on Friday morning
Credit: Reuters
4
Jota's brother André Silva, 25 also died in the crash
Credit: FC PORTO
Rute, 28-year-old mum of the striker's three young children, returned with her partner's body after his car smash death in Spain alongside his footballer brother Andre Silva, 25.
Gondomar townsfolk gathered yesterday sporting football shirts and carrying floral tributes as a shrine grew at a nearby sport club.
Kop idol Jota, 28, died instantly when his hired acid green £210,000 Lamborghini supercar suffered a suspected tyre blowout and crashed in a fireball on the A52 highway in Zamora province, northern Spain.
The brothers were killed instantly in the horror en route to the Spanish port city of Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after the Portugal star was urged not to travel by plane following lung surgery.
Their distraught mother Isabel and their grandfather were also spotted at the chapel this morning.
Tearful family members were seen hugging each other before walking together towards the chapel.
What we know so far:
The wake proper is set to start around 4pm, with Portugal's president Marcelo de Sousa among those arriving to pay respects.
Crowds began gathering on Thursday night near the chapel - the Capela da Ressurreicao on the outskirts of Porto - and applauded as the brothers coffins arrived at 11.30pm.
A funeral ceremony will take place next door at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar at 10am Saturday.
It is unclear whether tomorrow's proceedings will be open to the public.
The sad homecoming came less than 24 hours after the deaths - in keeping with Portuguese tradition to hold wakes and funerals promptly.
Tributes have been flooding in since the horrific news, including from Jota's Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and current Reds boss Arne Slot.
Follow our live blog below...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
39 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Nuno Borges dons black ribbon as Jota tribute after football top request denied
Instead he wore a black ribbon pinned to his hat during Friday's third-round defeat against Karen Khachanov, but said his team had initially pushed for a more visible tribute. 'I know Wimbledon is usually not very flexible with attire,' Borges told the PA news agency. Nuno Borges was beaten in a thriller (John Walton/PA) 'But I was told we could still do something to pay our respects for what happened, so I think it was a nice gesture. 'He was a great footballer. It was a tragedy.' Borges, who lost a five-set thriller to the 17th seed, said his agent contacted Wimbledon about the idea of wearing a Portugal shirt, and even tried to source a white version to comply with dress rules, but it was not approved. 'We initially talked about getting a full jersey to walk on court,' he said. 'I even tried to find one in white, but it was turned down, so we ended up doing something a little smaller.' Francisco Cabral of Portugal wearing a black ribbon in memory of compatriot Diogo Jota (Mike Egerton/PA) Asked if Wimbledon should have allowed the shirt, he said: 'I think that's what makes Wimbledon special and different from every other slam, so I really don't know.' Wimbledon relaxed its 148-year-old dress code in light of Jota's death, allowing players to wear black ribbons or armbands. Borges was among several players who did, including fellow Portuguese doubles player Francisco Cabral. Cabral, who wore a ribbon on his shirt sleeve during a doubles match with Lucas Miedler, said: '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.' He described it as 'an honour', adding: 'It was not for the best reason – he was an inspiration not only for me but for the country in general. A close up of the black ribbon being worn by Francisco Cabral (Mike Egerton/PA) 'He made so much in the sport and conquered so much in my life. If I helped 1% for the family I will be super happy.' Cabral and Miedler lost their second-round match in straight sets to Czech pair Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl. Wimbledon's dress code has long restricted visible colour on court, and tributes are rarely granted. The gesture marked a rare moment of flexibility from organisers, after the deaths of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who were killed in Spain while travelling to catch a ferry to England. British doubles player and Liverpool fan Neal Skupski had also taken a black armband for his match on Thursday, but opted not to wear it after learning of the death of his grandmother shortly after coming off court. He said he may wear one 'in the next couple of days'.
North Wales Chronicle
41 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Nuno Borges dons black ribbon as Jota tribute after football top request denied
Instead he wore a black ribbon pinned to his hat during Friday's third-round defeat against Karen Khachanov, but said his team had initially pushed for a more visible tribute. 'I know Wimbledon is usually not very flexible with attire,' Borges told the PA news agency. 'But I was told we could still do something to pay our respects for what happened, so I think it was a nice gesture. 'He was a great footballer. It was a tragedy.' Borges, who lost a five-set thriller to the 17th seed, said his agent contacted Wimbledon about the idea of wearing a Portugal shirt, and even tried to source a white version to comply with dress rules, but it was not approved. 'We initially talked about getting a full jersey to walk on court,' he said. 'I even tried to find one in white, but it was turned down, so we ended up doing something a little smaller.' Asked if Wimbledon should have allowed the shirt, he said: 'I think that's what makes Wimbledon special and different from every other slam, so I really don't know.' Wimbledon relaxed its 148-year-old dress code in light of Jota's death, allowing players to wear black ribbons or armbands. Borges was among several players who did, including fellow Portuguese doubles player Francisco Cabral. Cabral, who wore a ribbon on his shirt sleeve during a doubles match with Lucas Miedler, said: '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.' He described it as 'an honour', adding: 'It was not for the best reason – he was an inspiration not only for me but for the country in general. 'He made so much in the sport and conquered so much in my life. If I helped 1% for the family I will be super happy.' Cabral and Miedler lost their second-round match in straight sets to Czech pair Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl. Wimbledon's dress code has long restricted visible colour on court, and tributes are rarely granted. The gesture marked a rare moment of flexibility from organisers, after the deaths of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who were killed in Spain while travelling to catch a ferry to England. British doubles player and Liverpool fan Neal Skupski had also taken a black armband for his match on Thursday, but opted not to wear it after learning of the death of his grandmother shortly after coming off court. He said he may wear one 'in the next couple of days'.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Nuno Borges dons black ribbon as Jota tribute after football top request denied
Portuguese number one Nuno Borges has said Wimbledon officials denied a request to wear a Portugal football shirt on to court in tribute to Diogo Jota, after the Liverpool forward's death in a car crash. Instead he wore a black ribbon pinned to his hat during Friday's third-round defeat against Karen Khachanov, but said his team had initially pushed for a more visible tribute. 'I know Wimbledon is usually not very flexible with attire,' Borges told the PA news agency. 'But I was told we could still do something to pay our respects for what happened, so I think it was a nice gesture. 'He was a great footballer. It was a tragedy.' Borges, who lost a five-set thriller to the 17th seed, said his agent contacted Wimbledon about the idea of wearing a Portugal shirt, and even tried to source a white version to comply with dress rules, but it was not approved. 'We initially talked about getting a full jersey to walk on court,' he said. 'I even tried to find one in white, but it was turned down, so we ended up doing something a little smaller.' Asked if Wimbledon should have allowed the shirt, he said: 'I think that's what makes Wimbledon special and different from every other slam, so I really don't know.' Wimbledon relaxed its 148-year-old dress code in light of Jota's death, allowing players to wear black ribbons or armbands. Borges was among several players who did, including fellow Portuguese doubles player Francisco Cabral. Cabral, who wore a ribbon on his shirt sleeve during a doubles match with Lucas Miedler, said: '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.' He described it as 'an honour', adding: 'It was not for the best reason – he was an inspiration not only for me but for the country in general. 'He made so much in the sport and conquered so much in my life. If I helped 1% for the family I will be super happy.' Cabral and Miedler lost their second-round match in straight sets to Czech pair Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl. Wimbledon's dress code has long restricted visible colour on court, and tributes are rarely granted. The gesture marked a rare moment of flexibility from organisers, after the deaths of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who were killed in Spain while travelling to catch a ferry to England. British doubles player and Liverpool fan Neal Skupski had also taken a black armband for his match on Thursday, but opted not to wear it after learning of the death of his grandmother shortly after coming off court. He said he may wear one 'in the next couple of days'.
