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The Guardian
11 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Truly awful': rival fans united in grief at Anfield after death of Diogo Jota
Outside Anfield, where Diogo Jota's name recently soared from the stands, fans stood in a sombre, stricken silence. Barely five weeks ago they had watched their Portuguese hero lift the Premier League trophy, singing and dancing with his soon-to-be wife, their two sons, four and two, and their six-month-old daughter. Now, in a tragedy that puts the fleeting glories of football into shocking perspective, fans were laying floral tributes. 'It's just devastating,' said Gary Mann, 48, a season ticket holder, as he struggled to contain his emotions. 'He's a 28-year-old kid. He just always came across as a really nice human being – and that's the worst part of it. It's tremendously sad for his family.' Men, women and children were in tears as they hung scarves from trees and laid football shirts alongside an ever-growing bank of flowers outside Liverpool's main stand in the hours after Jota's death was announced on Thursday morning. Balloons bearing the number 20 – Jota's shirt number – were among the tributes, with several fans asking for the club to retire the number in his memory. 'He was an honorary scouser,' said Elliot Francis, 19, wearing his Liverpool jersey with Jota's autograph on the back, signed by the Kop favourite after one of the many home games when he would stop and talk to supporters. Jota's death – in a car crash in Spain alongside his 26-year-old brother, André Silva – is one of those shocking events that cuts through club rivalry and transcends football. Everton shirts were among those laid alongside those of Liverpool, Leeds United, Glasgow Rangers, Crystal Palace and other clubs opposite Anfield's Hillsborough memorial, dedicated to the 97 killed in the 1989 stadium disaster. 'My stomach turned this morning when I heard the news,' said Liza, 47, who would be raising eyebrows by wearing her Everton shirt at Anfield on any other day. 'It's not about that today. It's horrible for Liverpool fans and for the city. It's just absolutely heartbreaking.' In just the past six weeks, Jota had lifted the Premier League title with Liverpool and the Uefa Nations League trophy with Portugal. Two months ago he scored the winner in a tense home derby against Everton – his final goal. But it was the personal tragedy, rather than the onfield heroics, that left fans dumbstruck on Thursday. Jota married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, only 11 days ago, posting a video of their wedding on social media on Wednesday, along with the caption: 'A day we will never forget.' 'He had only just got married and had kids. Now his wife's a widow. It's truly awful,' said Anthony Ferns, 43. 'I live 10 minutes away and rushed over when I heard the news. I still can't believe it. It's like something from a disaster movie.' After laying down a Leeds United shirt, Maz Ferguson said she last saw Jota scoring two goals at Anfield against her club. 'But he was a player that you liked,' she said. 'He's gone out at the height of his career but football's irrelevant. He's got a wife and three young children, a mum and a dad who've just lost two sons.' Ferguson, 34, a lifelong Leeds fan, added: 'If any club has been through everything it's this club but Liverpool fans will come together for Diogo's family. This club knows how to put its arms around people.' Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said she was 'absolutely devastated' for Jota's family after she laid a large red-and-white bouquet alongside the tributes. 'It's absolutely heartbreaking. It just shows how life events can change really quickly. I'm absolutely devastated for his wife, his children and his family. I can't imagine what they're going through at the moment. My son is 28 and it's just really shocking.' Denise Cook, a season ticket holder for 41 years, had written a line from Jota's famous chant – 'And his name is Diogo' – on her floral tribute. 'It will go down as one of the tragic days like Hillsborough,' she said. 'He just gave everything. He never gave up, he was always chasing the ball. He was very integral. He was just always there and always trying. At the time I thought it was one of the best signings we'd made.' Amber McKendry, 30, and her partner, Roger McBurney, 34, both Liverpool fans, had flown from their home in Belfast with their three young children for a long-planned tour of the Anfield Museum when the news broke on Thursday morning. They had to break the news to Freddie, seven, Max, five, and Farrah, four, all wearing their Liverpool shirts at the stadium. 'They're still digesting it,' said McKendry. 'They haven't really dealt with much death in their life. They've all went a bit quiet. It's become a very different day for us all.'
ITV News
20 minutes ago
- ITV News
'Devastated' fans gather at Anfield to pay tribute to Diogo Jota following his sudden death
Shocked and grief-stricken Liverpool fans have flocked to the home of the Reds to lay flowers outside Anfield for their fallen hero Diogo Jota. A steady stream of hundreds of supporters passed the Liverpool flag, lowered to half-mast outside the famous old stadium, before making their way to an impromptu shrine outside the Main Stand. The area quickly became a sea of red and white flowers, scarves and shirts, a single blue Everton shirt amongst them, a tribute from a fan of their city rivals. Many supporters stood sombrely in silence, wiping away tears, others swapping happy memories about times the striker had scored to the delight of the Kop. Fighting back tears, John Lynch, 64, from Liverpool, said: 'I got the news this morning by text. Devastated. You know to lose a life so young but at Liverpool, we are all one, we're family. 'And when something like this happens, it's devastating. We were all looking forward to the new season. 'I've just been standing by the players' entrance where the coach comes in, thinking, he will never go through there again.' Mr Lynch said he expects fans from some of the Reds biggest rivals, Everton, Manchester United and Manchester City, to come to Anfield to lay flowers. He added: 'At time like this, football goes out the window. They'll all turn up and pay their respects.' Nisha Abraham, 21, from Malaysia but studying a law degree in Liverpool, said she felt compelled to come down to Anfield after hearing the news in a call from her mother back home on the other side of the world. 'I had to,' Ms Abraham said. 'It's almost like a family member to us. How can I not come here and pay my respects? So, I've brought a bouquet of flowers. 'I was lying in bed and my mother called me on the phone. And I sprung out of bed and I was in utter shock, I kept saying, 'What? What?' 'We have a huge following of Liverpool in Malaysia, we have a very big fan base.' Also clearly emotional was Callum Sullivan, 24, from Walton, Liverpool, who said: 'I found out this morning, my dad phoned me, he said, 'Have you heard the news?' 'Like me thinking Liverpool have just signed a world class player. And he said, 'Jota's passed away'. 'The whole world just collapsed on me. 'And the turnout today makes me proud to say I'm a Liverpool fan because we're really coming together, like we always do. 'Obviously a time of tragedy and heartbreak like this, this city really comes together and that makes me proud to be from here. 'We shouldn't be saying goodbye to one of our own. This is just raw emotion that's coming out of me. I'm trying not to cry again, but I loved him.' Mr Sullivan said the club should now retire the number 20 shirt, Jota's number. He added: 'Just retire it. It's Jota's legacy, it's Jota's number.' Egyptian Mohamed Abouelhuda, 49, a banker who lives in Dubai, visiting Liverpool with his children, said: 'We want to send our condolences on behalf of Egypt and also on behalf of Mo Salah, because most probably he's not here in town right now. 'It's very sad, very shocking, he was an incredible player, as a human being he's very good, everyone like him. 'We want to send our condolences to the entire team, the whole city as well and Portugal. 'It's sad and the guy who was in the peak right now, what he's doing and in his career, so he's in the best shape and this could happen to anyone. 'God bless the entire team of Liverpool.' Daniel Garrett, 29, from the Wirral, wearing a Liverpool shirt with Jota's name, said: 'It's absolutely devastating this, I'm sure a lot of people just like me, will be heart-broken about this too. 'He was a well-loved player Jota, who will tragically be missed. 'I thought I would come and pay my respects as well. 'My hearts and thoughts go to Jota's family and friends.'
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lewis Hamilton ‘hoping and praying' to return to podium at British Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton said he is 'hoping and praying' to end the worst podiumless streak of his Formula One career at Sunday's British Grand Prix. Hamilton has a remarkable record at his home race, winning a record nine times at Silverstone. He has also finished in the top three in all of his last 11 appearances here. However, the seven-time world champion has not landed a podium in Ferrari colours – a streak of 11 races – the deepest into the season he has ever gone without a top-three finish. Hamilton ended his two-and-a-half-year losing streak with a famous victory at Silverstone last season, and speaking ahead of Sunday's race, Hamilton said: 'I am hoping and praying. 'There is always magic here at Silverstone. It is a very, very special race and I am hoping all sorts of things can help us because we are not as quick as McLaren. If it stays dry they will walk the race. 'I don't look at those (podium) statistics so it is not something that affects me or I think about. But we are here at Silverstone and what better place to change that run so that is what we are working towards. 'I cannot wait for Friday. Driving a Ferrari at Silverstone for the first time will be special and unique in its own way. We have the best fans here, and for a British driver they really do make a difference. I have shown that to you time and time again so I hope this weekend they really make the difference for us.' Hamilton finished fourth, a place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc at the previous round in Austria. During the race, Hamilton aired his frustration with Ferrari after they pulled him in for a tyre change against his wishes. Hamilton continued: 'The team's view is that they wanted to secure third and fourth which is totally fine, but I am not here to start fourth and finish fourth. 'I am racing for every little bit we can gain. They had us on the same strategy. I never want to do the same as my team-mate, ever. 'I said I don't want to get to a point where I am ignoring you. We are working on our conversation. We are still getting to know each other and how we operate so that was all understood.'
