Wimbledon pays tribute to Jota after Liverpool star’s death

Wimbledon paid tribute to Diogo Jota after the Liverpool star’s death as Portugal’s Francisco Cabral wore a black ribbon during his doubles match on Friday. (X/@PSG_English)
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Updated 04 July 2025
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Wimbledon pays tribute to Jota after Liverpool star’s death

  • Cabral was allowed to put the ribbon on his shirt sleeve for the second-round tie
  • “I know what he’s been through, what he conquered through his career and through his life,” he said

LONDON: Wimbledon paid tribute to Diogo Jota after the Liverpool star’s death as Portugal’s Francisco Cabral wore a black ribbon during his doubles match on Friday.

Cabral was allowed to put the ribbon on his shirt sleeve for the second-round tie after the All England Club relaxed its strict all-white dress code to allow tributes to the Portugal forward.

Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in northern Spain while traveling to catch a ferry to England ahead of the start of pre-season training.

The accident came just days after Jota’s wedding to Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.

Cabral said he was driving to Wimbledon when he heard the news and praised Jota as “an idol, such an icon, such a good person.”

“I know what he’s been through, what he conquered through his career and through his life. So he’s just very inspiring for me,” he said after losing with Austrian partner Lucas Miedler against Czech duo Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl.

“I just wish all the best for his family. I know they have good people around them so I hope they can get through it.”

British doubles player Neal Skupski, a passionate Liverpool fan, had also brought a black armband for his match on Thursday but opted not to wear it.

He suggested he may wear one later in the tournament, saying: “Maybe in the next couple of days.”


Mid East Falcons win inaugural United Series championship in Dubai

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Mid East Falcons win inaugural United Series championship in Dubai

  • The 8-1 win over Mumbai Cobras gives the Abu Dhabi franchise a 2-1 series victory and first Baseball United title

DUBAI: Shotaro Kasahara allowed only two hits in six scoreless innings with six strikeouts to lead the Mid East Falcons to an 8-1 win over the Mumbai Cobras and the first United Series championship in league history.

Munenori Kawasaki — named United Series MVP — went 2-for-5 with one run scored and two RBIs as the Falcons claimed a 2-1 series win over the India franchise. Kawasaki batted .417 for the series.

Kasahara had a total of 72 pitches, 57 of which were strikes. Also, Shingo Hirata (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 SO after a Fire Ball scored) and Severino Gonzalez (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1BB) completed the pitching line for the Falcons.

Shuhei Fukuda went 2-for-3 with one RBI, Hiroyuki Makajima batted 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Gregori Cano had a 1-for-3 night, with two runs scored and one RBI, to highlight the Mid East offense.

After losing Game 1, the Falcons turned the United Series around with two straight victories. They scored a total of 16 runs on 26 hits, and allowed only five runs.

Other highlights:

Nyan Hernandez took the loss after a 1.0 inning, in which he allowed three hits, four earned runs, three walks and struck out two.

Lou Helmig went 1-for-3 with one RBI, as the standout man in the Cobras offense.

After winning Game 1 of the United Series, Mumbai only had eight hits and two runs scored.