Liverpool ace Diogo Jota has died alongside his brother in a tragic crash
By Democrat reporter
Spanish police have released a statement on the crash that killed Liverpool star Diogo Jota alongside his brother Andre Felipe.
The tragedy, which has shocked the European football world, unfolded after a tyre burst on the Lamborghini they were travelling in while it overtook another vehicle in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Both Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Felipe, 26, who is also a professional footballer, died in the crash.
“The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blow out while overtaking.”
“It was in the early hours, 00:30 BST, in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora.”
“The car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed.”
When asked to confirm the identities of those involved in the accident, the Guardia Civil said: “The player and his brother, Andre Felipe.”
Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region were scrambled to reports of the accident and vehicle fire., confirming the crash in a statement:
They said: “We received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at n the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire.
“We 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.”
The President of the Portugese Football Federation paid tribute to the starts in a statement shortly on social media after the news broke out.
Pedro Proenca, said: “The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning, in Spain.
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international caps 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.
“On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel.
“The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute’s silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women’s European Championship.
“Lost to two champs. The disappearance of Diogo and Andre Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honour their legacy.”
Crash scene: The Lamborghini in which the footballing brothers died.