Portuguese FA make request to UEFA after death of Diogo Jota in tragic car crash
The Portuguese FA have had a request approved by UEFA following the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.
Jota, 28, died in a car crash in the early hours of Thursday morning alongside his brother Andre Silva, which took place in Zamora, Spain.
The Portugal international’s brother was also a professional player at second-tier Portuguese side Penafiel.
The Guardia Civil released a statement to BBC Sport and said the pair's Lamborghini left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle and then caught fire.
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The Zamora Provincial Council also released a statement which read: "Two young people die in an accident on the A-52 (Palacios de Sanabria).
"The Rionegro del Puente Fire Station (Northern Zone of the @DiputacionZA Consortium) responded.
"The vehicle caught fire, and the flames spread to the vegetation.
"They were 28 and 26 years old. RIP."
Jota’s passing came just two weeks after he married his partner Rute Cardoso. The pair have three children together.
The Portugal Football Federation (FPF) released a statement confirming that they have requested a minute’s silence ahead of Portugal and Spain’s group stage match at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 on Thursday evening.
“The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, this morning, in Spain,” a statement released by the federation read.
“Much more than an outstanding player, with nearly 50 caps for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all colleagues and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference in his own community.
“The Portuguese Football Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where the players respectively played. The Portuguese Football Federation has already requested UEFA to hold a minute of silence, this Thursday, before our National Team’s match against Spain in the Women’s European Championship.
"We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Football, and we will do everything to honor their legacy daily.”
Jota’s last Liverpool appearance came in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on May 25. His last game for Portugal came in their Nations League final win against Spain on June 8.
UEFA also released a statement, which read: "On behalf of the European football community, we are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Portugal international and Liverpool FC forward, along with his brother André Silva.
"Our thoughts are with their family, friends, teammates and all those affected by this heartbreaking loss."
As per Sky News journalist Rob Harris, the Portuguese FA's request for a minute's silence has now been approved.
UEFA said: "UEFA announces that a moment of silence will be observed at all of today’s and tomorrow’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 matches in memory of Portugal international and Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva who tragically passed away today.”
Topics: Diogo Jota, Liverpool, Portugal, Football, UEFA
Luke Davies