Wimbledon makes rare exception to strict rule as players pay tribute to Diogo Jota following the Liverpool star’s tragic passing
Wimbledon officials have agreed to ease a long-standing rule to allow players to honour Diogo Jota following his tragic passing.
The Liverpool forward, along with his brother Andre — also a footballer — tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain on Thursday.
In response to the heartbreaking news, tributes have flooded in from across the sports world. Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s teammate for Portugal, and former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp both shared emotional messages. Liverpool, who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020, also released a touching statement.
Among those paying their respects is Portuguese tennis player Francisco Cabral, who plans to wear a black armband during his matches at Wimbledon. Despite the tournament’s famously strict all-white dress code, organisers at the All England Club have made a rare exception, permitting players to wear black armbands as a mark of respect for Jota.
Following his men’s doubles win over Jamie Murray and Rajeev Ram, Cabral expressed his sorrow and his intention to honour Jota in his upcoming matches.
“I saw the terrible news,” he said. “He was a big figure not just in Portugal but worldwide. He was a kind person with a beautiful family and three children. My thoughts are with them. It’s incredibly difficult to recover from something like this.”
Cabral, who is competing alongside Lucas Miedler at Wimbledon, is set to face Czech pair Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl in the second round on Friday. While he didn’t have an armband for his opening match, he said he hopes to wear one next time.
