By News18
In a tragic turn of events, Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died in a car accident in Spain two weeks after his marriage. He was 28.
According to reports in Spanish media, Jota was traveling alongside his brother Andre, also a footballer, in a car early Thursday morning when the crash happened on the A-52 province of Zamora. Andre is also feared dead.
Jotoa had recently gotten married to his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso.
Emergency services in Castilla confirmed the accident.
鈥淭he 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,鈥 a statement read.
鈥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,鈥 it added.
Jota had signed for Premier League giants Liverpool FC in September 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderer. His brother, Andre, 26, played for Pennafiel in Portuguese鈥檚 second division.
Pedro Proenca, head of the Portuguese Football Federation, has confirmed the news.
鈥淭he Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and Andr茅 Silva, this 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,鈥 Proenca said in a statement.
鈥淥n 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鈥檚 silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women鈥檚 European Championship,鈥 it added.