From the moment news broke of Diogo Jota’s tragic passing, football fans around the world expected every Liverpool star to gather in Portugal to bid farewell. Yet one name was conspicuously absent: Mohamed Salah. The question — why Salah didn’t attend Diogo Jota funeral — rapidly spread across social media, igniting speculation, theories, and heartfelt criticism. In this article, EquaGoal will explore the most credible explanations, reaction, Jota’s legacy, and the Liverpool family.
The context: Jota’s sudden passing and the funeral setting
On July 3, 2025, Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car accident in Spain. The news stunned the football world. Jota, aged just 28, had become a respected forward at Liverpool—with over 120 appearances and 47 goals for the club.
The funeral was held in Gondomar, near Porto, Portugal, just two days later. Many Liverpool players, staff, and Portuguese footballers made the journey to pay their respects in person. h.net]) But Salah was not among them, and the absence resonated loudly.
To understand it, we must examine the plausible reasons, what Salah has said (or not said), and how the club and fans have responded.
Plausible explanations for his absence
There’s no single confirmed statement.
Logistical and timing constraints
- Club-arranged transportation: Reports say Liverpool arranged a special flight to transport players to Portugal for the funeral, though it is unclear whether Salah accepted or was able to use it.
- Short notice: The funeral was scheduled soon after the accident, leaving little time for long-distance travel—especially if players were scattered globally on holiday.
- Physical or medical concerns: Some commentary suggests Salah had concerns about travel (e.g. fatigue, health, safety), though nothing has been publicly confirmed.
- Avoiding distraction: Similar to the reasoning cited for Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence, some believe top players sometimes avoid funerals to prevent media commotion or overshadowing the grieving family.
Emotional and psychological barriers
- Grief and emotional overload: Salah openly admitted that Jota’s death left him “lost for words.” It’s plausible he felt unable to face the intensity of such a moment publicly.
- Fear or dread returning to Liverpool: Salah revealed he was “frightened” at the prospect of coming back to club training, knowing Jota would not be there. e. That emotional burden may have influenced his decision.
- Desire to mourn privately: Some speculate Salah preferred to grieve in private, away.
Respect for family privacy
- Not wanting to overshadow the family: Given Jota’s funeral was also intensely emotional and high-profile, Salah’s absence might have been a deliberate choice to avoid drawing focus away from Jota’s loved ones.
- Sensitivity to media intrusion: The logistics of high-profile funerals often involve press, fans, and security. Perhaps Salah (or his advisors) felt his presence would complicate matters.
Because none of these reasons has been confirmed directly by Salah, each remains speculative — though together they offer a framework to understand the absence.
What Salah did instead: tributes, reactions, and silent mourning
Though he didn’t attend in person, Mohamed Salah’s response was heartfelt and public.
- Emotional social media post: Salah shared a somber tribute, saying he had “no words,” that it would be “extremely difficult to accept” Jota’s absence on their return, and sending thoughts to Jota’s family.
- **Cutting holiday short Some reports suggest Salah shortened his off-season break in response to Jota’s death, hinting at internal turmoil and regret over being away.
- Visible grief at matches: In subsequent matches, Salah has been visibly affected during tributes to Jota—an emotional scene when Anfield observed a minute’s silence, where Salah buried his face in his hands.
- Private reflections: In later interviews and podcast appearances, Salah admitted he didn’t fully expect how emotionally overwhelming public tributes would feel. ibuna.com])
While he may have skipped the funeral physically, Salah’s public grief suggests empathy and sorrow ran deep.
Fan reactions, rumors, and backlash
Salah’s absence sparked strong reactions in fan circles and media alike.
- Criticism and conspiracy theories: Some fans accused him of abandoning a teammate or suggested conflict behind the scenes.
- Defensive voices rallying: Others defended him, citing personal grief, logistics, or the right to mourn privately without judgment.
- Media speculation: Numerous outlets published speculative takes—some citing lack of statement, others leaning on comparisons with Ronaldo or club politics.
- Club responseverpool broadly avoided detailed commentary on Salah’s absence, focusing public messaging on solidarity and grief for the Jota family.
In the court of public opinion, his absence remains controversial, but many voices have emphasized that absence from a funeral doesn’t equate to lack of respect or mourning.
The symbolic weight of missing a teammate’s funeral
In football culture—and especially in tight squads like Liverpool’s—being present at a teammate’s funeral is more than a formal courtesy. It’s a public act of unity, respect, and shared grief.
Salah’s absence, therefore, resonates beyond the personal: it touches on leadership expectations, public perception, and the emotional bond within the squad.
- Impact within the locker room: Teammates who traveled likely viewed attendance as both moral support and personal tribute. Salah’s absence may have generated awkwardness or questions behind closed doors.
- Leadership optics: As one of Liverpool’s senior figures, Salah’s presence—or lack thereof—was bound to be judged symbolically.
- Fan expectations vs. human limits: Fans often expect stars to always show up, but grief does not operate on schedule or obligation.
In sum, the absence is laden with emotional and symbolic weight, even if it doesn’t reflect Salah’s heart or intentions.
Reconciling public memory and private grief
How do we square the public gaze with private sorrow in such moments? Salah’s absence can be seen through multiple lenses:
- Not a statement, but a limit: His absence may speak less about choice and more about emotional, physical, or logistical limits he faced.
- Tribute in silence: Some mourners prefer memory, legacy, and quiet tribute over grand gestures.
- Respecting boundaries: Public figures still have a right to privacy and emotional space, especially in devastating circumstances.
- Legacy beyond one event: Ultimately, what Salah does across seasons, with his actions on and off the pitch, shapes his legacy more than one funeral attendance.
Final Thoughts
Why Salah didn’t attend Diogo Jota funeral remains a question without a definitive first-person answer. Yet when we sift through the plausible reasons—emotional distress, logistical barriers, concerns about glare, and the desire to mourn privately—the absence begins to feel human, not cold.
What is clear is Salah’s grief has not been muted. His heartfelt tributes, visible tears, and continued respect in following matches signal deep sorrow and loss. In the tapestry of football life, absences do speak—but not always the way we expect.
If you want more insight into how footballers cope with loss, how teams navigate grief, or comparisons to other incidents, just say the word. EquaGoal is here to dive deeper.
