The tragic death of Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota has prompted officials at Wimbledon to make an unprecedented change to the tournament’s historic dress code.

In a rare and touching tribute, players competing today (3 July) have been granted special permission to wear black armbands in memory of the 28-year-old Portuguese footballer. This marks the first known occasion in the tournament’s long history that such an exception has been made to its famously strict all-white dress policy.

Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, 26, were killed in the early hours of this morning in a devastating car crash in Zamora, Spain. According to the Guardia Civil, a suspected tyre blowout caused their Lamborghini to veer off the road while overtaking another vehicle, before bursting into flames.

A statement from Spanish authorities read:

“A vehicle left the road and everything indicates a tyre burst while overtaking.
As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both occupants were killed.
Pending the completion of forensic tests, one of the deceased has been identified as Diogo Jota, a Liverpool FC player, and his brother, André Felipe.”

The All England Lawn Tennis Club is renowned for its traditional regulations, particularly its insistence that players wear white during matches—a rule that dates back to the 1880s. However, in light of the tragic news, tournament organisers acted swiftly to allow black armbands as a gesture of respect.

Portuguese tennis player Francisco Cabral, who competed in the men’s doubles on Thursday, spoke emotionally about the loss of his fellow countryman.

“I have seen the very sad news.
The guy is a big name, not just in Portugal but in the world. He was a great human being with a lovely family and three kids.
My best wishes to them all. For his family, it is very tough to recover from that.
I couldn’t get [an armband] in time today, but I want to in the next one,” Cabral said, as quoted by WalesOnline.

Wimbledon’s decision has been widely praised as a fitting tribute to a beloved sportsman whose impact extended beyond the pitch.

Tributes have continued to pour in from across the globe, with public figures including Piers Morgan and Gary Neville sending heartfelt messages to Jota’s family.

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp issued a particularly emotional statement, saying:

“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 André.
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.
All my prayers, thoughts, and strength go to Rute, the children, the family, the friends, and everyone who loved them. Rest in peace. – Love, J.”

Diogo Jota is survived by his wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three young children. The couple had only recently celebrated their wedding, held in Porto just 11 days before his untimely death.