Diogo Jota death latest: Liverpool star’s family gather in Portugal for wake and funeral

Portuguese pair Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral paid tribute to compatriot Diogo Jota by wearing black ribbons on court at Wimbledon.

Borges wore the item on his cap during his third-round singles clash with 17th seed Karen Khachanov after Cabral donned one on his shirt sleeve during his doubles match earlier on Friday.

Wimbledon relaxed its strict all-white dress code to allow tributes to the Liverpool forward.

Cabral said he was driving to Wimbledon when he heard the news, describing the footballer as “an idol, such an icon, such a good person” in Portugal.

After his defeat in the men’s doubles alongside Lucas Miedler, he added: “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. It was an honour – it was not for the best reason.

“He was an inspiration not only for me but for the country in general.”

Queues of grieving people have gathered to pay their respects to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silver.

Mourners waited with flowers in the brothers’ hometown of Gondomar near Porto on Friday.

The public wake is currently happening at the Capela da Ressurreicao ahead of the funeral tomorrow.

Liverpool FC remain focused on responding to the tragedy of Diogo Jota’s death in a car crash but say the forward will be “honoured with the respect and affection he so richly deserves”.

The club’s past and present sporting directors, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, said in a joint statement that tributes would be “meaningful and inclusive of supporters”.

In a joint statement they said: “In the coming days, we as a club will look to honour our beloved number 20 with the respect and affection he so richly deserves.

“We will strive to make these tributes meaningful and inclusive of our supporters, to whom Diogo meant so much.

“For now, we express a love that is filled with deep sorrow and pain. We have lost someone truly irreplaceable.

“In such heartbreaking circumstances, it is our responsibility to acknowledge the collective grief we are experiencing, to pay tribute to our Diogo, and to offer unwavering support to his family who remain our absolute priority at this time.

“Of course, we – his Liverpool family – are also struggling to come to terms with what has happened.

“As his team-mates, friends and colleagues, we are consumed by shock and sorrow. We know our supporters, his national team, former clubs and teammates and the wider football community share in this grief.

“This is a tragedy that transcends Liverpool Football Club.”

Pedro Neto is a doubt for Chelsea’s Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras following the death of Portugal international teammate Diogo Jota.

The Liverpool forward died on Thursday following a car crash in Spain, leaving the football world in shock and a state of mourning.

Neto, who played alongside Jota during their time together at Wolves, has not trained with the Blues on the eve of their Club World Cup last eight fixture.

Liverpool have cancelled the phased return of players for pre-season training as they continue to mourn the death of forward Diogo Jota.

The first group of Arne Slot’s squad were scheduled to attend the club’s AXA training complex on Friday for the opening round of physical tests after their summer break.

It is understood that has been postponed as the club deals with the aftermath of the shocking tragedy which saw 28-year-old Jota and his brother Andre Silva killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday.

Mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, ahead of the brothers’ funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday.

Jamie Carragher has said he is “in a state of shock” after Diogo Jota’s death.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Liverpool player said: “Just in a state of shock really. I think, not just with anyone associated with Liverpool but football in general. It’s a time when we’ll come together as football fans. I just can’t believe the news today.

“It’s so sad for everybody in involved but especially his family, his wife and the three children they’ve got. It’s devastating for all involved.

“I don’t know the current players particularly well so won’t pretend to know Diogo. He lived close but kept himself to himself. He came across, probably, not in the typical way people describe Premier League footballers. He seemed humble, a real family man. “He did his business on the pitch and was quiet and humble off the pitch. A great guy and a great footballer.

“It’s really difficult to find the words to say about him. More importantly right now it’s not about the football or Liverpool, it’s about his family and what they’re going through.”

President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has arrived at public wake held for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva at the Capela da Ressurreicao.

Earlier, Jota’s family arrived at the chapel in his hometown of Gondomar near Porto.

A convoy of hearses carrying the bodies left for the town on Thursday evening from the morgue of Puebla de Sanabria.