Chelsea and Palmeiras observed a period of silence in honour of Diogo Jota ahead of kick-off in Friday night’s FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final in Philadelphia.
The game took place around 48 hours after Liverpool star Jota and his brother Andre Silva had died in a car crash in northern Spain.
Pedro Neto had been a team-mate of Jota at international level with Portugal and the pair were understood to have formed a close friendship over the years.
Neto held up a Chelsea shirt printed with the names of Diogo and Andre as both sets of players lined up around the centre circle ahead of Friday’s game.
Former Wolves ace Neto was named in Chelsea’s starting XI after manager Enzo Maresca told reporters earlier in the day that the winger would be given the choice over whether he wanted to play following the devastating news of his friend’s death.
Neto looked visibly emotional and appeared to be fighting back tears during the moment of silence.
More to follow.
