Following are quotes and reactions to the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain on Thursday:

LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB

“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.

“The club have been informed that 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 requests the privacy of Diogo and Andre’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.”

FORMER LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP

“This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it! I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother, Andre.

“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!”

PORTUGAL PRIME MINISTER LUIS MONTENEGRO

“The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal’s name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports.”

PORTUGAL AND AL-NASSR PLAYER CRISTIANO RONALDO

“It doesn’t make sense. We were together just recently in the national team, and you just got married.

“To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We’ll all miss you.”

MANCHESTER UNITED AND PORTUGAL PLAYER BRUNO FERNANDES

“There are no words of consolation for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field.

“I send all my strength to his family, from wherever he is, I am sure he will always be with you, especially to his wife and his three children.”

LA LAKERS PLAYER AND LIVERPOOL MINORITY OWNER LEBRON JAMES

“My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!!”

FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO

“Aged 28, Diogo has enjoyed a fantastic career to date and had many great years ahead of him, while his brother Andre was thriving at FC Penafiel – they will both be so sorely missed by all those who knew them and by the worldwide football community.”

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER

“There are millions of Liverpool fans, but also football fans, non-fans, who will also be shocked by this.

“It is devastating, and it is really important we bear in mind just how difficult a period this will be for his friends, for his family.”

PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT PEDRO PROENCA

“Portuguese football is devastated. The Portuguese federation, this generation of players are mourning. Diogo was what we all want to be, was a reference for Portuguese football, was a talent of his generation…”

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

“We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him during his time at Wolves. The memories he created will never be forgotten.”

LIVERPOOL GREAT KENNY DALGLISH

“Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.

“Thinking and praying for all their loved ones after the devastating loss of both Diogo and Andre.”

PORTUGAL PLAYER RUBEN NEVES

“They say that we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you.”

LIVERPOOL PLAYER DARWIN NUNEZ

“There are no words of consolation for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field.

“I send all my strength to his family, from wherever he is I am sure he will always be with you, especially to his wife and his three children.”

UEFA PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER CEFERIN

“Just three weeks ago, I had the honour of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the UEFA Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now forever be burned in memory with sorrow.

“His passion, energy and spirit on the field inspired everyone around him. It is devastating to think that a life so full of joy and potential has been taken far too soon. Rest in peace, dear Diogo. You will not be forgotten.”

PENAFIEL FC, ANDRE SILVA’S CLUB

“The loss of two young lives linked to the world of football fills us with pain and consternation.

“At this difficult time, Futebol Clube Penafiel extends its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and all those who shared moments of life and passion for sport with Andre and Diogo.

“The club will declare official mourning and will pay tribute at its upcoming sporting events. Rest in peace.”

-Reuters

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 Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, 28, died in a fiery car crash near Zamora in northwestern Spain with his brother, Spanish state-owned TV station said on Thursday, citing local firefighters.

Police told Reuters everything pointed to that information being correct, although they could not yet officially confirm the names.

The regional fire department of Castille-Leon, where Zamora is located, said on its website a car crashed shortly after midnight on Thursday and burst into flames, with two men, aged 28 and 26, found dead.

Jota, who got married on June 28, helped Liverpool win the Premier League last season and also won the FA Cup and League Cup with the Merseyside outfit.

Jota arrived at Anfield from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club in all competitions.

He also made 49 appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League.

-Reuters

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The National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of veteran sports administrator and former Kano Pillars Chairman, Abba Yola, describing his passing as a painful loss to Nigeria’s sports community.

Alhaji Yola, a retired Assistant Director in the Ministry of Sports, also served as Chief of Staff to former Sports Minister Sunday Dare. Throughout his distinguished career, he held numerous high-profile positions within Nigeria’s sports architecture.

According to a media release by Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi, the Director of Press at the NSC, the chairman of  NSC, Shehu Dikko, described Yola as a “sports administrator par excellence” whose contributions to Nigerian sports were both immense and enduring.

“Alhaji Abba Yola was not only a seasoned administrator but also a personal friend. His death is a shocking and painful loss,” Dikko said.

“We worked closely during his tenure as Chairman of Kano Pillars, and I witnessed firsthand his commitment to the development of sports in Nigeria. He left a lasting legacy, particularly through his role in the Sports Commission and Ministry of Sports.”

Dikko also recalled Yola’s significant role in Nigeria’s qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, noting his service as a member of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) that oversaw the campaign.

Similarly, the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, paid glowing tribute to the late administrator, calling him “one of the brightest minds Nigeria has produced in sports administration.”

“Alhaji Yola came through the ranks in the Sports Commission and was instrumental in many of the successes we are seeing today,” Olopade said.

“As Chief of Staff to Sunday Dare, he was actively involved in launching the ‘Adopt-An-Athlete’ initiative, which has evolved into the Elite Athletes and Podium Performance Program currently supporting Nigeria’s top talents with training grants.”

“His contributions are deeply woven into the fabric of Nigerian sports, and his absence will be profoundly felt. Our thoughts are with his family and the good people of Kano State,” Olopade added.

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