Jota's Legacy and the Need for a Kinder Football Culture

The death of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva offers football a chance to reset its values

Humanity Over Rivalry

On 3 July 2025, the football world changed. News of Diogo Jota’s sudden passing in a car crash alongside his brother Andre Silva cut deep, far beyond Liverpool. A shockwave of grief tore through Anfield, Molineux and the wider football community. Rivals stood side by side, stripped of colours, united in mourning.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, along with Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, stood outside Anfield earlier this week. They laid flowers in tribute to their Portuguese teammate and friend. Their message read simply, “Rest in peace Diogo and Andre,” signed with condolences from everyone at Manchester United. No jeers, no tribalism, no shade, just respect.

It was a moment that reminded us what matters. The game, for all its fierce competition, should never blind us to the human being behind the badge. And now, more than ever, that reminder is needed.

Learning From Loss

Diogo Jota’s death has forced uncomfortable but necessary conversations. Football has always sparked emotion, but in recent years, online culture has taken that passion and twisted it into something darker. Criticism has escalated into abuse. Opinions have turned into pile-ons. And some fans, perhaps forgetting there is a person behind each profile, have made bullying part of their matchday routine.

Jota, loved across the Premier League and adored at Liverpool, was no stranger to this. One poor game could light up social media with mocking memes and toxic comments. We have seen it with countless players. But now, looking at the tributes, the songs, the shirts, the silence, the love, we ask ourselves, why does it take a tragedy to remember someone’s value?

Jota gave everything in Wolves and Liverpool shirts. He chased down lost causes, scored crucial goals, and became a cult figure among supporters. His song will echo for years. That should never have been forgotten, and now, we must carry that awareness into the future.

Calling Time on Fan Abuse

To be clear, this is not a call to become bland or to ditch passion. Football needs debate, frustration, and even the odd rant. It is normal to be furious after a loss or disappointed by a player’s mistake. But there is a line. And lately, that line has been ignored more than observed.

The death of Diogo Jota should serve as a cultural reset. Not just at Liverpool, but across the sport. We must challenge ourselves to ask how we react to performances and losses. Are our tweets helpful or harmful? Are we criticising the player or attacking the person? Social media has made it easy to speak first and think later. Now is the time to flip that.

We cannot afford to act like players are robots. They have families, pressures, emotions, and mental health battles like anyone else. When they are on the pitch, they represent clubs, yes, but they also carry weight none of us can fully understand. The cost of making one wrong move under the spotlight can be brutal. Why would we, as supporters, want to add to that burden?

What Diogo Leaves Behind

As difficult as it is to write these words, there is some comfort in what Jota left behind. His legacy is not just in his goals or performances but in how he was loved. Fans across Liverpool, Wolves, and beyond have shown up for him in death in a way we hope they remember in life for others.

Liverpool have now retired the number 20 shirt across all levels. Wolves are planning a permanent memorial. Matches will be played in his honour. Songs will be sung not just as tribute, but as memory. These are fitting gestures, because Diogo Jota gave joy to the game and deserved to feel that joy back.

So now, we ask fans to pause. Reflect. Take this heartbreak and make it count. Use it to build a better, kinder supporter culture. Not soft, not silent, just smarter. One where passion and respect can exist together. One where rivalry ends at the whistle. One where a player’s worst day is not met with online cruelty but with understanding.

That is what Diogo deserved in life. And it is what every player deserves going forward.