By Sport Wales Online
The footballing world was rocked on Thursday morning with news of the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota. Jota, aged just 28, was killed in a car accident alongside his brother Andre, 26, in Spain in the early hours of the morning. Spanish national Marca reported that the tragic incident occurred on the A52, near the municipality of Palacios de Sanabria, while Zamora News, a local publication, added that emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 1am. In the last few hours news, pictures and video have emerged as to the circumstances of the crash, with Spanish Guardia Civil releasing a statement regarding what happened. Jota’s Lamborghini suffered a tyre blowout, resulting in an accident and the car being engulfed in flames, they said. “The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking,” it read. “It was in the early hours, 00:30 local time (23:30 BST), in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora. “The car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed.” Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region also released a statement, which read: “The 1-1-2 Castilla y Le贸n operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident, and the vehicle was on fire. “1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident. From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene.” Tragically, the news comes just weeks after Jota tied the knot with long-term partner Rute Cardoso . The pair share three young children. Tributes have poured in from around the world for Jota and his brother, who was also a professional footballer. The Premier League champions released a statement, which read: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. “Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andr茅’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.” Pedro Proenca, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation also paid his respects, stating: “The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andr茅 Silva, this early morning, in Spain. “Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 internationalizations for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself. “On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andr茅 Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players. “The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute’s silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women’s European Championship. “Lost to two champs. The disappearance of Diogo and Andr茅 Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honour their legacy.” Liverpool and Wales legend Ian Rush paid his best wishes, writing on Instagram: “I鈥檓 deeply saddened and shocked by the heartbreaking news of the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andr茅 Silva. My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, children, and everyone in his family, as well as his friends and supporters.” Fans have already started to lay flowers at Anfield in memory of the former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker.