Wimbledon Bends 148-Year-Old Dress Code Rule To Honour Diogo Jota After Tragic Death

Wimbledon, known for its strict white clothing rule, has made a rare exception to allow players to wear black armbands. This special decision was made to honour footballer Diogo Jota, who sadly passed away in a car accident along with his younger brother, Andre Silva, on July 3, 2025.

Jota was a star forward for Liverpool and a key player for Portugal’s national team. He had recently helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League and had just gotten married to his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso. He leaves behind three young children.

As a sign of respect, Wimbledon is letting players to wear black armbands during their matches. This is a big change, as Wimbledon has followed a strict dress code since 1877.

Many famous athletes, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Nadal, paid tribute to Jota. Even Real Madrid held a moment of silence for him. This kind gesture by Wimbledon shows that, even in the world of sport, humanity and compassion matter most.

Who Is Andre Silva? Liverpool Star Diogo Jota's Brother, Who Also Passed Away In Car Accident In Spain

Portugal and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, whose untimely demise has shaken the sporting fraternity as a whole, also had a brother named Andre Silva. The car accident in Spain at 12:30 am local time saw both of them lose their lives but it's worth noting that Silva also had a promising football career ahead of him as he rose through the ranks rapidly.

Silva, known to be an attacking mid-fielder, he experienced a stint with Portugese's second-tier team FC Penafiel as he became part of them in 2023 after plying his trade for Gondomar. The 26-year-old had also featured for Boavista and FC Famalicao's U-23 side.

Jota, meanwhile, had played alongside the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo and was recently part of Portugal's national football team that won the Nations League by defeating Spain in the final by penalties. The year 2020 saw Jota moving from Wolves to the Liverpool, a club for which he has made more than 180 appearances. He has played in the winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup for them and featured in 49 matches for Portugal senior football team.

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