Police swoop as Diogo Jota's graveside is flooded by fans snapping 'disrespectful' photos

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Police have been called to Diogo Jota 's graveside as fans started snapping photos just hours after the footballer was buried alongside his brother Andre Silva.
Distraught loved ones gathered in Portugal for a heart-breaking service to bid a final farewell to the Portuguese star, 28, and his 25-year-old sibling who both died on Thursday in a fatal car accident.
Tearful mourners, including Jota's wife Rute Cardoso, were seen walking through the brothers' hometown of Gondomar as they made their way into the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar earlier today.
Only family and friends were allowed inside, however a livestream with audio of the service, lead by D. Manuel Linda, the Bishop of Porto, was played outside to thousands of mourners who lined the streets.
After the emotional funeral, the brothers' graveside opened up to allow members of the public to pay their respects.
But mourners soon took the opportunity to take pictures beside their burial site, with police arriving at the scene to break up the crowd, The Sun reports.
Fans could be seen gathering around the grave with some of them crouching down and pointing phones at the headstone display.
Mourners soon flooded back to the cemetery following the police intervention.
Earlier, his wife Rute, 28, who shares three young children with Jota - two boys and a girl -clutched a cream-coloured rose as she placed her hand on her husband's casket while it was taken into the church.
In a heartfelt message to Jota's three children, who did not attend the funeral service, the Bishop said he would 'pray a lot for you' and told the congregation 'if it is difficult to see an adult cry, it is even more difficult to see a child cry'.
'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,' he added.
Current and former team-mates of the Premier League star including a host of Liverpool and Portuguese players, appeared emotional as they attended the funeral today alongside friends and family.
They included current captain Virgil Van Dijk, who held a flower arrangement in the shape of Diogo's shirt with the number 20, and Andy Robertson, who carried a red shirt bearing Andre's number 30.
Thousands of people gathered in and around the church, including those who showed up to support the family.
The funeral began with the Lord's Prayer, before a eulogy was read out. The service lasted for around an hour.
An organist led hymns inside the church including The Lord Is My Shepherd, Hallelujah and Bach's Air On The G String.
A poster of Andre Silva is carried as the coffins are walked to the Church ahead of the funeral for him and his brother Diogo Jota
The funeral mass was led by D. Manuel Linda, the Bishop of Porto, and in his homily he left a message to the three children of Portuguese international Jota.
'Dear Dinis, Mafalda and Duarte, children who are not here. At this moment you are suffering immensely or perhaps not because you do not realize it. I will pray a lot for you,' he said.
'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.
'But there are feelings. We are here to say that we also suffered a lot. We are here with you emotionally.
'It's human to cry. Too bad for us if we didn't.'
The Bishop continued: 'May we have faith and hope in the resurrection. This communion of life is achieved through baptism and works. Your father got married 11 days before this event.
'Good works: both of you rose in life through your sacrifices. Always respecting your fellow man.
'Serious, respectable people. With a particular aptitude. The Church likes sports. Sports have enormous potential to bring together different people. Where they come together: respect, discipline... There are many values ​​of sports.
Mourners leave the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva being held at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in the town of Gondomar
'If it is difficult to see an adult cry, it is even more difficult to see a child cry. I send you a special greeting for your mother and grandparents. I am with you but Jesus is also with you.'
The song Ave Maria was played as the coffins were carried out of the church this afternoon, with guests comforted each other as they walked behind them.
Jota's wife Rute was emotional and held the back of her husband's coffin. Someone beside her placed her arm around her. Those gathered around the church applauded them as they went.
The two brothers will be laid to rest in the cemetery next door to the church, less than 100 metres away. It is surrounded by olive trees.
A seventh day mass will also be held next Wednesday, July 9, at 9pm, in the same church where family members will come together to remember the two brothers, share stories about them and pray.
After the funeral, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said: 'These are really, really sad days, as you can imagine. But today we showed we are a large, close family.
'We are Portugal and it was esssential for us that for Andre Silva and Diogo Jota, we are together and we will always be together. Their spirit will be with us forever.
He added: 'Thank you very much for messages and support from all over the world.
'It means a lot and today we are all one football family.'
Former Liverpool stars including Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Fabinho and Thiago as well as Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva attended the service today in Gondomar.
Portugal teammate Ruben Neves, who flew in to Portugal after playing for Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup clash in Orlando, US, was also a pallbearer for Diogo's coffin.
Merseyside comedian John Bishop was also among the stars making their way inside the church with Portugal and Wolves defender Nelson Semedo.