A foundation that claimed its objective was to ‘honour the legacy of Diogo Jota’ and raised 64,000 pounds have suddenly vanished. The website, which was formed three days after the forward’s tragic death, had logos of Liverpool as well as those of Unicef, Allianz and the Portuguese Platform of Development NGOs [non-governmental organisations]. All four have confirmed to English newspapers that they had little knowledge or a tie-up with the website.
The home page eloquently described their ambitions. “Through football, education, and hope, we carry forward the light he left behind – creating opportunity, joy, and lasting impact for the youth of Gondomar and beyond”, read a statement read on the site.
“The Diogo Jota Foundation was conceived in 2025 with one goal: to celebrate Diogo’s incredible journey from a small youth academy in Gondomar to one of Europe’s most respected footballers – and to pay that spirit forward,” it added.
It claimed to provide 25,000 meals, sponsor 300 schoolchildren, and set up 50 local partnerships. They also promised to offer support for young footballers without resources. “’We create opportunities for young talent through free football camps and grassroots training in underdeveloped communities; empower students with scholarships, academic resources, and life coaching to thrive beyond sports; [and] collaborate with local organisations to promote health, inclusion, and youth engagement across regions.” The ‘foundation’, though, only accepted payments in the form of cryptocurrency.
A quote, supposedly of Jota, too was posted. : “Football gave me everything. I always believed in using the game to give back – to inspire, uplift, and create chances for others to thrive.” A close ‘family friend’ is also quoted: “Diogo always gave quietly. His heart was in the community. We’re proud to continue that legacy in his name.”
Allianz to pursue legal actions
In the wake of the incident, Allianz said it would pursue legal action. “We can confirm that we do not have a partnership, and our logo should not have been used on this website. We monitor illegal use of our brand and we are taking steps to get the website shut down by the suitable authorities. Misuse of branding is an ongoing issue in the digital world, and fraudsters will often try to add recognised brands to their fake websites to try and deceive the public,” it told The Telegraph.
The charity commission too confirmed that the website was not registered with them. “In the wake of tragedies and natural disasters, there are always some who seek to capitalise on the British public’s generosity and sympathy. While most charity appeals are genuine, the regulator always advises the public to exercise caution when considering making a donation to ensure that their money goes to where it is needed, and where they wish it to go,” it said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
