Spanish football giants Real Madrid have been forced to issue a humbling public apology after a major error occurred during a solemn tribute to the late brother of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.
A Solemn Occasion Marred by Error
The unfortunate incident took place during the club's annual assembly on Sunday. As part of a video memorial honouring individuals connected to the club who have passed away in the last year, a segment was dedicated to Andre Silva, the brother of Diogo Jota. The two Portuguese footballers tragically died in a car crash in July.
While the tribute correctly featured a photo of Jota, who was 28 at the time of his death, it mistakenly displayed a picture of Elche forward Andre da Silva instead of his brother, Andre Silva. The mistake was quickly spotted by attendees due to the similarity in names.
Club Issues Swift Apology
Real Madrid moved quickly to address the blunder. The club published an official statement on its social media channels, expressing regret for the error.
"Real Madrid C.F. apologises to Elche C.F. and its player André da Silva for having mistakenly included his image in the obituary of an institutional video instead of that of André Silva, the brother of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool player," the statement read. "We regret this incident."
Adding a personal touch, club president Florentino Perez also addressed the assembly directly to apologise. He described the mistake as a "human error" and offered his sincere apologies for the mix-up.
Remembering the Silva Brothers
Andre Silva was just 25 years old when he died. He was also a professional footballer, having played for Portuguese second division side Penafiel. He previously played for Gondomar, his hometown, where he and his brother were laid to rest in July.
The video tribute also honoured other notable figures, including former Real Madrid staff and personalities such as Leo Beenhakker and Jose Manuel Ochotorena.
Meanwhile, the memory of Diogo Jota continues to be honoured at his former club, Liverpool. Fans sing his name after 20 minutes of every match, a reference to his shirt number, which has now been retired by the club. His former teammate, Andy Robertson, recently gave an emotional interview, revealing he was thinking of Jota after helping Scotland qualify for the World Cup.
